Brazzaville, 16 July 2015 – A high level delegation from Merck, a drug pharmaceutical company donating Praziquantel (PZQ) tablets for schistosomiasis control and elimination, has today paid a courtesy call to the World Health Organization Regional Office in Djoue, Brazzaville where they were received by Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa.

Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, chairman of the Board of partners of Merck KGaA was accompanied by Dr. Karim Bendhaou, president of Merck North & West Africa Group, Mr. Frank Gotthardt, head of public affairs, Merck KGaA, and the WHO Representative to Congo Dr Fatoumata Binta Diallo. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the ongoing partnership between WHO and Merck, specifically the scaling up of deworming of school age children in the Region, and the control of schistosomiasis in the Republic of Congo.

The delegation from Merck thanked the WHO Regional Director and her team for its leadership and the progress made so far in scaling up Praziquantel coverage in the 42 countries that are endemic for schistosomiasis. The Merck PZQ donation programme started in 2007 with a promise to donate 20 Million tablets per year for ten years. Being one of the pharmaceutical companies that signed the London Declaration on NTDs in January 2012, Merck committed to increase its donation quota of PZQ to reach 250 Million tablets per year.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical disease (NTDs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. With over 220 million people infected the Region accounts for more than 90% of the global burden of the disease. 

In her opening remarks, the Regional Director expressed her gratitude to Merck for the commitments made during the London Declaration in 2012 that resulted to improved school attendance and economic development of many countries in Africa.  She also recalled the stakeholders' meeting that was held in Geneva on the establishment of a new NTD entity, which will primarily focus on provision of technical support to priority endemic countries as WHO continues to work closely with Member States and NTD partners.

“I shall also continue advocating with Governments of the African Region to ensure that funds for mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns are put aside and Schistosomiasis control receives the necessary attention that it deserves”, Dr Moeti said as she renewed her commitment to fight NTDs in the Region.

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For more information, please contact: 

•    Technical contact:

Dr Benido Impouma; Tel: +472 413 9773; Email: impoumab [at] who.int (impoumab[at]who[dot]int)

•    Media contact:
Mr Winfred Oppong-Amoako, NTD Communication; Tel: + 472 413 9811; Email: oppongamoakow [at] who.int (oppongamoakow[at]who[dot]int)
Mr Collins Boakye-Agyemang, Regional Communications Adviser, + 472413 9420; Email: boakyeagyemangc [at] who.int (boakyeagyemangc[at]who[dot]int)