Islamabad
COMSTECH in collaboration with The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) network, Durham University, UK, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, and University of Nairobi organized a 3-day workshop on, “Identification of New Lead Compounds and Diagnostic Tools for Leishmaniasis: Concepts, Approaches, and Capacity Building”, from February 23 to 25, 2023 at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
The Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary mentioned that a high number of cases in tropical regions of Africa and Asia both of cutaneous and visceral Leishmaniasis emphasizes the demand to identify the potential drugs from our rich folk medicine and natural resources rather than expensive imported medicine.
Leishmaniasis is a vector born disease-affecting people of more than 97 countries, including Pakistan and Kenya. The growing cases of Leishmaniasis around the globe particularly in African region is a major health challenge, which needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Unfortunately, to date no vaccine is available to treat Leishmaniasis and therefore capacity building to identify new drugs lead is critically important.
The event was attended by 50 participants from 12 countries including Kenya, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, together with resource persons from UK, Argentina, Uruguay, and Pakistan.
The participants appreciated the role of COMSTECH and NTD-Network UK, for the promotion of science and technology in Afrio-Asian region. High commissioner of Pakistan in Kenya, Honourable Syeda Saqlain graced the event as Guest of Honor.
