Eumycetoma

Convenor(s):

Wendy van de Sande (w.vandesande@erasmusmc.nl)

Website: http://eumycetomaworkinggroup.weebly.com/index.html

Overview

The objectives of the working group are:

  • To provide an official body for all researchers and health care workers interested in all aspects of mycetoma under the umbrella of ISHAM
  • To encourage the study of all aspects of mycetoma
  • To increase the awareness of the scientific community and public about this neglected infection
  • To facilitate the exchange of ideas and information about epidemiology, immunopathology, diagnosis and management of mycetoma
  • To facilitate the organisation of mycetoma symposia in microbiology and mycology meetings
  • To facilitate fund raising

 

Achievements

In 2015 and 2016 we have been actively involved to get mycetoma recognised as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) by the World Health Organization by the World Health Organization. On 28 May 2016, mycetoma was officially recognized as the 18th  NTD at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Hopefully this will lead to new opportunities for fund raising. In terms of fund raising we are also pleased that Drugs for Neglected diseases initiative (DNDi) has added mycetoma to its portfolio and as such the first clinical trial on a new drug for mycetoma will commence this year.

Working group meetings were held during the ISHAM conference in Melbourne in 2015 and on 20-21 May 2016 in Argentina. Collaborations between members of our working group were formed during these conferences.

Also, the broader public was approached by a series of reports on mycetoma by Amy Maxmen which was published on Global Health Now Read the article

Publications

See Reports for 2015 and 2016