ISSUE 33
THE
MECTIZAN DONATION PROGRAM
2004
Special Session with Mr. Raymond V. Gilmartin, Chairman, President,
and Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co., Inc. (cont'd)
African Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC)
On behalf of APOC, Dr. Azodoga Sékétéli spoke about the past and future of onchocerciasis control in Africa. By 2010, APOC predicts that eligible people in all areas indicated for mass treatment in the APOC region will be taking annual doses of Mectizan for onchocerciasis. An issue currently facing APOC is the long-term sustainability of mass treatment programs.The World Bank and Committee for Sponsoring Agencies (CSA)
Mr. Bruce Benton commented, on behalf of the World Bank and the CSA, that securing additional donor support for APOC will be essential in the near future. The Bank currently projects a financing gap of $26 million through 2004, but the gap, unless narrowed, will begin to impact APOC operations in 2005. Hence, the World Bank is proposing to convene a Donors Conference in Washington, DC USA in the spring of 2004 in an effort to substantially reduce this projected shortfall.NGDO Coordination Group for Onchocerciasis Control
Mr. Paul Derstine, chairman of the NGDO Coordination Group, recalled the success and positive impact of Mr. Gilmartin's visit to Bombani, Tanga Region, Tanzania in 2002 for the delivery of the 250 millionth treatment with Mectizan for onchocerciasis. He praised the model for public-private partnerships that has resulted from Merck's donation of Mectizan and expressed the commitment of the NGDOs to onchocerciasis control for the long term.World Health Organization (WHO)
Dr. Gautam Biswas commented, for the WHO, that progress of the LF program has been satisfactory. He indicated that the commitment on behalf of the countries has made this success possible and hopes that scaling up to reach entire populations at risk will progress rapidly.GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Representing GSK, Dr. Brian Bagnall commented on the remarkable partnership that has developed between Merck and GSK -- two research-based pharmaceutical companies working together towards a humanitarian goal. He applauded the partnership's success in collaborating and coordinating activities for LF elimination in 28 African countries and Yemen.Tanzania LF Elimination Program
Dr. Mwele Malecela, National Coordinator for Tanzania's LF elimination program, commented on the partnerships and political will needed at the national level to ensure the success of LF elimination. She discussed the challenges faced by her country including securing funding to expand treatment to cover 54 districts with 18 million people and integrating LF elimination with other disease control programs.Comments Made by Mr. Gilmartin
Mr. Gilmartin thanked the participants for the briefing and recounted his fond memories of delivering the 250 millionth treatment with Mectizan in Tanzania. Mr. Gilmartin felt his visit to Tanzania was extraordinary in its demonstration of the partners' commitment to the success of onchocerciasis control.He also commented that the most difficult part of drug donations is getting the drugs to the people in need. Partnerships are crucial, and the dedication shown by the people involved has created a positive impact on the programs. Mr. Gilmartin noted his awareness that people risk their lives to deliver these drugs.
He spoke about Merck's approach to HIV/AIDS in Botswana and its focus on capacity building as well as getting medicine to infected people. Mr. Gilmartin observed that the positive experiences and successes of the Mectizan Donation Program encouraged Merck to become involved in other disease control initiatives. He ended by saying that Merck looks forward to the ongoing success of the Mectizan Donation Program and to the opportunities for progress with lymphatic filariasis elimination.
