Pioneering Workshop in Lusaka: A Convergence of Nutrition and NTD Programmes for Healthier Communities

Lusaka, Zambia - In a significant collaborative effort, the African Union and the Africa CDC, in partnership with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, are hosting a landmark regional meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, scheduled for December 13-15, 2023. Themed "Leveraging on Neglected Tropical Diseases Programmes to Improve the Nutritional Status of Affected Communities," this meeting symbolizes a critical step towards integrating efforts in combating NTDs and malnutrition in the Southern African region.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of twenty diseases, including trachoma, intestinal worms, leprosy, and elephantiasis, prevalent in 49 African states and impacting over 600 million people globally. These diseases, often in tandem with malnutrition, pose significant challenges to health, education, and economic growth, particularly in underserved and marginalized communities.

This initiative recognizes the vital interconnection between NTDs and nutrition. Conditions such as dracunculiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiases have profound links to malnutrition, contributing to anemia, stunted growth, and impaired cognitive development. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3.3) and the WHO NTD roadmap, this meeting aims to foster integrated approaches to address these intertwined challenges.

The meeting will bring together representatives from Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), NTD experts, and major health organizations. Its objectives include raising awareness of the Continental Framework for NTDs, evaluating progress in national NTD programs, enhancing the synergy between nutrition and NTDs, and formulating comprehensive advocacy and resource mobilization strategies.

Anticipated outcomes of this meeting include a unified understanding of the NTD-nutrition nexus, strategies for integrating nutrition into NTD programs, identification of funding gaps, resource mobilization plans, and the establishment of coordination mechanisms.

As a significant step towards a healthier and more resilient Africa, this convening aims to eliminate the dual threat of NTDs and malnutrition-related challenges in communities. The ESPEN invites all stakeholders and the public to stay informed about the developments of this crucial event. Regular updates and detailed information about the meeting will be available here at the ESPEN Portal.