Health and Medical Care

1. On, June 17, Mr. MIYAKE, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs singed the Kigali Declaration on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
2. The Kigali Declaration on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is a political declaration which aims to form solidarity among stakeholders towards ending NTDs, to promote multidisciplinary approaches through industry-academia-government partnerships, to strengthen capacities including health systems and finance mobilization in endemic countries, to tackle issues for acceleration of research and development of medicine and diagnostics for NTDs and ensuring the supplies, and to end NTDs by comprehensive and sustainable ways.
3. By signing the Declaration, it is expected that activities for NTDs by industry-academia-government partnerships including GHIT Fund will be accelerated, leading to achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), that has been promoted by Japan in international society.

(Note1) Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
NTDs are a group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas, reportedly affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide. Since NTDs deteriorate labor capacity and productivity and they can cause severe deformities and death, NTDs are one of crucial issues that prevent economic growth especially in low- and middle- income countries.

(Note2) The Kigali Declaration on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
The Kigali Declaration on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is to be launched at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which takes place in Rwanda on June 23. Building upon the London Declaration on NTDs, which set 2022 as the target year, the Kigali Declaration was made for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) target on NTDs and the targets set out in the World Health Organization’s Neglected Tropical Disease Roadmap (2021-2030)

(Note3) Global Health Innovative Technology Fund: GHIT
GHIT is an international public-private partnership originated from Japan that promotes research and development of medicine, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and NTDs. Funding partners include the Government of Japan, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and pharmaceutical companies. Established in 2012.

(Note4) Universal health Coverage (UHC)
To ensure that all people can receive the quality health services they need at an affordable cost without financial hardship