World NTD Day Collaborative Project
”NTDs Student Contest"
January 30th is World NTD Day recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). While NTDs are predominantly known as tropical diseases, they also have relevance to Japan, with some NTDs still present in the country. Notably, numerous Japanese government entities, companies, and organizations contribute extensively through drug development, manufacturing, and research.
The purpose of this contest is to deepen understanding and interest in NTDs among youth, encouraging them to perceive NTDs as relevant issues and consider what actions they can take. This contest is part of the international events held in conjunction with World NTD Day.
Sharing History of controlling/eradicating NTDs
Japan has implemented advanced efforts to control NTDs. Specifically, these include schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and rabies.
We have been working with experts to compile information about rabies control in Japan. We are willing to dispatch useful information on how Japan has successfully eradicated rabies. Now we are working on creating useful tools for rabies control from different perspectives (education, vaccine method).
Our Plans:
- Summarize the history of NTDs Conrol in Japan and share it with the world
- Consolidate specific measures and knowledge on rabies control
- Disseminate information using easy-to-understand tools.
- Rabies control in the Phillipines
- Develop a new method to enable large-scale vaccination of dogs.
- Implement dog vaccination by a third-party organization.
https://rabies-history.jp/
Uniting with the government
To increase Japan's contribution to NTDs, we have been engaging with bureaucrats and recommending to implement NTDs countermeasures to the policy. Our proposal was adopted in the policy proposal of NTDs Parliamentary Group in Japanese Government.
Through discussion with the government officials, we came to realize that it is crucial to gain publicity of NTDs in order to get further investment from the government.
We will carry out projects to raise awareness of NTDs in Japan with the future intention of improving Japan's contribution to NTDs.
Our Plans:
- Address additional investment to NTDs to the Japanese Government
- Advocacy Campaigns to Raise Awareness of NTDs among Japan
(Picture above: Policy Proposal to the NTDs all-party parliamentary group of Japanese Government )