Training Workshop and Meeting for Leprosy Programme Staff in the Western Pacific Managers took place in Shanghai in June

The Training Workshop and meeting for leprosy Programme Staff in the WHO Western Pacific took place in Shanghai from June 1 to June 6, 2009.

The meeting was held in the first two days. Dr. Myo Thet Htoon, Medical Officer of WHO global leprosy programme, Dr Pieter van Maaren, Responsible Officer & Regional Adviser, Stop TB and Leprosy Elimination, WHO/WPRO, Dr. Xiao Donglou, Vice Head of Bureau of Disease Control, MOH China, representatives of Shanghai Bureau of Health and Shanghai Skin Diseases & STD Hospital presented in the opening ceremony and made speeches. Twenty leprosy managers from Cambodia, China, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Viet Nam and experts participated the meeting. The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr. Wang Wenjie, Head of Division of TB Control, Bureau of disease Control, MOH. Committed by Dr. Pieter, Prof. Zhang Guocheng, Deputy Director General of National Center for Leprosy Control, China CDC (NCLC) chaired the two days meeting.

The meeting was part of implementation of Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Leprosy Burden and Sustaining Leprosy Control Activities (2006-2010) and the Operational Guideline in order to further reduce the leprosy burden and promote sustainability of leprosy services. The objective of the meeting is to discuss and identify constraints in the implementation of national strategy on leprosy control and develop a two-year action plan that addresses identified constraints in line with national strategy.

During the meeting, Dr. Pieter, Dr. Arturo Cunanan, WHO/WPRO Short Term Advisor, Mr. Rens Verstappen Head of Projects Department, Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR), presented Overview Global and Regional Leprosy Situation, Leprosy Programme Management in Low-endemic Situations and Future of Leprosy Services from the Perspective of an International Partner respectively. The national leprosy managers presented leprosy situation in countries in the meeting. Dr. Yu Meiwen from NCLC presented leprosy situation in China in the meeting.

Based on the leprosy situation in the countries, national leprosy managers made the action plan for the next two years facilitated by experts. The action plans were also shared during the meeting.

The meeting provided an opportunity for national leprosy managers in WHO/WPRO to discuss leprosy control together and share the experiences. It is the first time for national leprosy managers in WHO/WPROS to sit together to discuss the sustainability and future of leprosy control in the region.

Following the meeting, the training workshop took place in 3-6, June. The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr. Pieter and leprosy managers from other countries, Malaysia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Federated States of Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu also participated the training workshop. The training workshop was facilitated by Dr. Henk Eggens, Senior Adviser, Public Health, Royal Tropical Institute and Dr. Charles Phaff, Netherlands Leprosy Relief Mozambique, and technically supported by Dr. M. Htoon, WHO, Dr. Arturo Cunanan, WHO/WPRO Short Term Advisor and Mr. Rens Verstappen, NLR.

The objectives of the training workshop was to acquire the skills to develop and implement their national leprosy control strategy and learn how best to integrate leprosy activities into general health services. The contents of the training workshop included diagnosis, case detection, treatment, prevention of disability, rehabilitation, reporting and monitoring, integration and referral. The training workshop provided a innovative approaches in training on leprosy for leprosy managers in WHO/WPRO.

The meeting and training workshop were organized by WHO/WPRO, co-financially supported by NLR and co-logistically supported by Shanghai Skin Diseases & STD Hospital. The meeting and workshop were also coordinated by MOH China, NCLC and WHO Beijing Office.

Prof. Zhang Guocheng, Deputy Director General & Dr. Yu Meiwen, NCLC, Dr. Li Jinlan, Guizhou Provincial CDC and Dr. Pei Bin, Shanghai Skin Diseases & STD Hospital participated the meeting and training workshop.