V. R. V. Cox , L. C. Fuller , S .P. Shumack , R. J. Hay
The International Foundation for Dermatology was estab- lished by the International League of Dermatological Soci- eties (ILDS). The ILDS is the only dermatology-specific Non-Governmental Organisation in official relations with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and holds key strategic opportunities for advocacy and policy develop- ment. Recent achievements include the addition of Scabies to the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in 2017 and the development of the WHO NTDs Training Guide for front-line healthcare workers in 2018.
It is an exciting time for the emerging field of global health dermatology due to increased funding and resources. The Skin Cross-Cutting Group of the Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network (NNN) met in September
2019 for the first formal workshop on skin-NTDs. A key
outcome was the development of horizontal strategies with an integrated dermatological approach to address all skin- NTDs. These discussions are continuing in different inter- national settings.
Australia has played an important and key role in advancing skin health in resource-limited settings glob- ally. Australian-led public health interventions and research programs have advanced knowledge of Buruli (Bairnsdale) ulcer, scabies and onchocerciasis. Earlier this year, it was announced that researchers working in partnership at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Kirby Institute have been awarded a 10 million dol- lar grant to develop a global scabies eradication pro- gram.
This presentation will highlight the Australian contribution to the field of global health dermatology. Opportunities for junior doctors and consultant dermatologists to pursue clinical and research opportunities in global health derma- tology will also be discussed.
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