The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine held the first ‘National Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Forum’ from 16 to 17 June 2016 in the Manila Grand Opera Hotel.

The forum’s primary objective is to develop a research agenda based on the stakeholder’s needs for DOH’s NTD program.

The two-day forum includes plenary sessions, research presentations, and a group workshop. The plenary sessions focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to address Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Research presentations featured researches on Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH), schistosomiasis, and other neglected tropical diseases.

The research agenda was formulated before noon on the last day of the forum through the collaboration of the representatives from the WHO, DOH, DepEd, and RITM. The formulated agenda highlights the DOH NTD program’s strategies for research operations and implementation.

Forum guests include WHO Western Pacific officers, DOH national officers, and local DOH and DepEd officers from 17 regions in the country. RITM’s Parasitology Department facilitated the event with Dr. Fe Esperanza Espino, head of the department, leading the forum. –Hannah Benedicto