On 19 April, the inaugural Women
in Focus Awards took place in Geneva, Switzerland
celebrating the crucial role women play in the ongoing fight against Neglected
Tropical Diseases, a role which often goes unrecognized and unrewarded.
The Women in Focus Leadership
Award was presented in dedication to the memory ofDr Likezo Mubila, a Zambian
public health expert who sadly passed away at home in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2011.
Dr Likezo Mubila was dedicated
to the fight against neglected tropical diseases. These are diseases that
affect the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world, mainly in
Africa. She worked for the Department of Biology at the University of
Zambia prior to joining the World Health Organization's Regional Office for
Africa in 2001 as the focal point for lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted
helminthiasis and schistosomiasis, three of five most prevalent NTDs in Africa.
Today, many countries in Africa, are reaching elimination targets and moving
their populations out of poverty, towards the path of prosperity. Togo recently
joined the growing list of countries that have eliminated lymphatic filariasis
as a public health programme, becoming the first country in Saharan Africa to
eliminate LF.
It is through the personal
dedication and the groundwork that Dr Mubila laid, in the establishment of the NTD program at WHO AFRO, that we
are now seeing such tremendous progress in the fight against NTDs in
Africa. We owe much of this progress to Dr Mubila and we are delighted to
be honoring her contribution through the launch of this award.
Edridah Muheki from Uganda
was delighted to be the first ever recipient of the Women in Focus Leadership
award in honour of Likezo Mubila. On receiving her award she said:
“I am so
encouraged by this recognition and feel highly appreciated. This is such an
amazing incentive because it mirrors the teamwork we have built in Uganda as an
NTD family. I am very grateful to have been nominated and to the people who
decided I should win.”
As 2017 marks the 5th anniversary of the World Health Organization’s
roadmap on NTDs and the London Declaration, the awards celebrate this milestone
by shining a light on the inspirational women helping to control, eliminate and
eradicate 10 neglected tropical diseases.
Dr. Julie Jacobson, Chair of the stakeholders
working group of Uniting to Combat NTDs), says: “The Women in Focus
Awards shine a light on women
from all over the world who are working in their local communities, making a
remarkable impact on tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases just as Dr Likezo
Mubila did. One in seven people on
the planet suffer from these diseases. That’s more than the entire population
of Europe. Every day women all around the world are making crucial
contributions to help defeat them and this is our chance to celebrate and
acknowledge their vital role
