$62 Million Worth of Donated Drugs for NTDs

On April 23^rd 2008 the Niger NTD Control Programme officially handed over to the Ministry of Health the $62.7m worth of donated drugs that will be used in Niger’s 2008 Neglected Tropical Disease mass treatment campaign. The ceremony was presided over by the Honourable Mr. Issa Lamine, the Minister of Health and Dr. Amadou Garba, the Niger NTD Control Programme Manager.

The Niger NTD Control Programme is funded through USAID’s NTD Control Programme and the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI). Other partners include the WHO, UNICEF, RISEAL, and the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI).

SCI Team Receives Medal at the Queens Royal Anniversary Trust Award Ceremony in Buckingham Palace

On the morning of Thursday February 14^th 2008 the Rector  of Imperial College London, Sir Richard Sykes, was presented with the medal by the Queen, and Professor Alan Fenwick received the citation from the Duke of Edinburgh. The ceremony at Buckingham Palace was attended by Professors Steven Smith, Roy Anderson and Joanne Webster. Five SCI staff were allowed to join the Imperial College party and these were Dr. Lynsey Blair, Ms. Fiona Fleming, Ms Elisa Bosque-Oliva, Ms. Artemis Koukounari and Mr. Michael French. After the presentation ceremony, both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the College groups, and they both spoke individually to each of the Imperial College representatives which was appreciated by everyone.

Video Documentaries on Schistosomiasis and the Work of the SCI

Three documentaries covering the impact of schistosomiasis and the work of the SCI have been made available via this web site.

Acknowledgements

SCI is grateful to Feed The Children, a partner in the worldwide program to raise health standards in countries where worms are a major problem in child nutrition. The supply of mebendazole for deworming is part of Feed the Children's ongoing program, and Feed The Children has announced that they are proud to be partners with WHO and SCI in the deworming program in Burundi and Rwanda by donating an annual supply of mebendazole. The first 1 million doses have been received in each country and have already been distributed in Rwanda.

SCI thanks the following donors and partners for their support:

© Schistosomiasis Control Initiative 2008

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG

tel:     0207 594 3287
email: schisto@imperial.ac.uk