Upcoming events/information
April 2013
WHO Expert Committee in human African trypanosomiasis Control and Surveillance
Venue: WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
Date: 22–26 April 2013
Objective: Experts will discuss practical implications for the control and surveillance of human African trypanosomiasis in countries endemic for the disease. The WHO Expert Committee last met in 1995 to discuss the progress made in the control and surveillance tools, the epidemiological understanding of the disease and the training of researchers. Since then, important changes have taken place in the epidemiological situation of the disease and tools used to control the disease.
May 2013
Fifth World Congress on Leishmaniasis
Venue: Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco, Brazil
Date: 13–17 May 2013
Objective: The Congress, being held for the first time in the Americas, provides a forum for in-depth discussions on the latest development in the control of different forms of the disease.
3rd Technical Review Meeting of the Yemen Schistosomiasis Control Project
Venue: WHO HQ, Geneva, Switzerland
Date: 29 May – 7 June 2013
Experts will assess project activities which have expanded over the years and which now include control and elimination of schistosomiasis, control of soil-transmitted helminthiases, elimination of trachoma, with school health component.
June
Third WHO Meeting of the Non-Endemic Countries Initiative on The Control and Elimination of Chagas disease
Venue: Florence, Italy
Date: 4–6 June 2013
12th FAO/WHO Joint meeting on Pesticide Specifications (JMPS)
Venue: Kiev, Ukraine
Date: 5–10 June 2013
The meeting will review the data package provided by industry for development of FAO and WHO specifications for pesticides, for their quality control and international trade. This meeting is also organized in collaboration with the Collaborative International Pesticide Analytical Council (CIPAC), the Ministry of Health, Ukraine, National Commission Codex Alimentarius of Ukraine and the respective L. I. Medved’s Institute of Ecohygiene and Toxicology, Kiev, Ukraine
July
Vector Control Advisory Group (VCAG)
Venue: WHO Headquaters, Geneva
Date: 10–12 July 2013
A new WHO advisory group jointly established between GMP and NTD on new forms of vector control for malaria and other vector-borne diseases. This will be the first meeting of the group and its objective will be to focus on the finalization of the VCAG operating procedural guidance document and to review few innovative products for vector control.
WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES)
Venue: WHO Headquaters, Geneva
Date: 22–30 July 2013
The WHOPES Working Group reviews reports of pesticide product trials and makes recommendations on their suitability for public health use. It also assists the WHOPES technical unit to develop and periodically revise WHOPES guidelines. This year the WG will review 8 products including 3 Indoor Residual Products products, 2 larvicides and 3 long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets.
August
WHO Consultation on LLIN Guidelines – to determine and compare fabric strength of LLINs
Venue: WHO Headquaters, Geneva
Date: 20–22 August 2013
The objective of this meeting is to determine and specify physical strength of netting materials of WHO recommended LLINs, using standard fabric criteria and test methods. LLIN manufacturers have been requested to provide samples of their LLIN products for WHO testing of textile parameters which will be subject to fabric tests in a textile research institution determined by WHO. A summary and outcomes of the study will be reviewed at this Consultation. The goal of this study is to promote development of good quality LLINs and promote the concept of value-for-money in procurement of these essential public health products.