The WHO has announced some changes to the structure of its organisation, including to the Communicable Diseases and HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Clusters. These were implemented on 1st November 2007.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES CLUSTER

This is now known as Health Security and Environment, reflecting a closer alignment to their work on health security, the environment and endemic communicable diseases. It includes the: 

• Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response;


• Cholera Team;


• Disease Control in Humanitarian Emergencies;


• Department of Protection of the Human Environment; and


• Department of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases.

Dr David Heymann will continue to lead this cluster. He will also serve as Representative for the Director-General for Polio Eradication.

HIV/AIDS, TB CLUSTER

This has been renamed HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Among diseases grouped by the WHO under NTD are leprosy, Buruli ulcer, lymphatic filariasis, cholera, leishmaniaisis and yaws.

Dr Hiroki Nakatani will continue to head this cluster.   

Category: International Collaboration, News and Notes