The International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis – ICCDE Meeting

25 April 2019

Status of Dracunculiasis eradication (guinea-worm disease)

What
For the first time, Ethiopia is hosting the meeting of the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis – ICCDE. This 13th ICCDE meeting is taking place on 25-26 April 2019 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addis Ababa. As part of this meeting, WHO and the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia will brief journalists on the current status and challenges facing the global eradication programme. 

Speakers
• Dr Ren Minghui, WHO Assistant Director-General
• H.E. Dr Amir Aman, Federal Minister of Health of Ethiopia

Why
‘Last mile’ challenges have emerged in endemic countries which require additional effort and resources to reach the target of eradication. Some of the challenges include: weak surveillance, particularly in cross border regions; inaccessibility to some endemic areas due to security reasons; and infection in animals, particularly dogs.

When
Thursday 25 April 2019 at 16:00 (East Africa Time) or GMT+3

Where
WHO Conference Room, 1st floor,west wing, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Media Opportunities:
Accredited journalists are invited to attend the Press Conference. In addition, one-to-one interviews can be arranged.

Webex meeting
You can also join the Press Briefing on Guinea Worm Eradication Thursday 25 April 2019 at 16:00 (East Africa Time) or GMT+3 via WebEx 

Meeting number (access code) 842 290 725 
When it is time join the meeting

Join from a video system or application
Dial 842290725@who-meeting.webex.com 
You can also dial 62.109.219.4 and enterour meeting number

Join by phone
+44-203-478-5289 Call-in toll number(UK)

Media contacts:
Selamwait Yilma +251 91 167 1134 yilmas@who.int
Dr Beyene Moges, Deputy Director-General, Ethiopian Public Health Institute,+251911247092, beyemoges@gmail.com
Dr. Zeyede Kebede,  +251 91 174 6397,  zelekez@who.int
Ashok Moloo,  molooa@who.int,  +41 79 540 50 86
 

More information
Dracunculiasis factsheet 

Hashtags:  #ICCDE, #BeatNTDs
Handle: @WHO @WHOEthiopia @zeroguineaworm