ICTMM 2024: MoU established to accelerate control, eradication of tropical diseases

KUCHING (Sept 19): The Asean Alliance of Societies for Tropical Medicine and Parasitology has been established through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between 10 societies and associations from around the world.

The MoU signing ceremony between countries of the Associations of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) took place at the Borneo Convention Centre (BCCK) here today in connection with the opening of the 21st International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria (ICTMM 2024).

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who officiated at the event, highlighted the importance of global response and interdisciplinary research in the fight against tropical diseases.

He expressed his hope that this alliance will foster a mutually beneficial environment for the sharing of expertise and research interests, and provide opportunities for developing innovative solutions against tropical diseases.

“People are affected by tropical diseases; I mean we are talking about 1.2 billion people.

“But why have these diseases persisted for so long?” he said.

The Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government then elaborated that the diseases persist in the most marginalised regions where they are not advancing in terms of income or ‘knowledge economy’.

The signatories of the MoU were Indian Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology; Indian Society for Parasitology; Indonesia Parasitic Diseases Control Association; Indonesian Association of Medical Specialist in Clinical Parasitology; Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine; Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre; The Philippine Society of Parasitology, Inc.; Korean Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine; Taiwan Society of Parasitology; Parasitology and Tropical Medicine Association of Thailand; and Vietnam Society for Infectious Diseases.

Co-organised by the International Federation for Tropical Medicine, the 60th Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine Conference, and the 10th Asean Congress of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, the event which runs till Sept 23, has welcomed over 1,200 participants from more than 58 countries.

With the theme ‘Global Responses and Interdisciplinary Research towards Eliminating Tropical Diseases’, the congress aims to accelerate the prevention, control, elimination and eradication of tropical diseases such as malaria.

These strategic interventions align with the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all ages.

This year’s congress also marks the Diamond Jubilee 60th anniversary of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology.

Organising chairperson Prof Dr Siti Nursheena, in her speech, emphasised the significance of interdisciplinary approaches to address these tropical diseases that affect millions of lives around the world.

“It is only by combining our diverse expertise, resources and innovative ideas that we can effectively tackle these formidable health challenges,” she said.

“This event provides a unique opportunity for global participants to connect, share experiences, build lasting collaborations, or even create innovation breakthroughs that can shape the future of research and global health,” she added.