Government chief scientific adviser to explore how to tackle African health problems

Africa: Health Matters? conference addresses issues of HIV, schistosomiasis and malaria - News Release

Joint Imperial College London and Royal Geographical Society Media Invitation
For immediate release
Friday 9 November 2007

The government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, along with other leading figures in the scientific and geographical communities, will discuss how to improve African healthcare in a one day conference on Tuesday 13 November 2007.

Press are invited to attend the event, ‘Africa: Health Matters?’, jointly organised by Imperial College London and the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers.

The conference will focus on the social, economic and geographical variations associated with AIDS/HIV, schistosomiasis and malaria and the healthcare issues surrounding them. Sir David King, who is also head of the government Office for Science, will give a key note speech exploring how advanced science can help tackle African health problems, how UK science can help, and in particular the role of research councils.

The event will be chaired by Professor Sir Gordon Conway, chief scientific adviser to the Department for International Development and President of the Royal Geographical Society and IBG.

Other speakers will include Professor Alan Fenwick, Director of the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative and Professor of Tropical Parasitology at Imperial College.

Professor Fenwick will highlight Africa’s Neglected Tropical Diseases which cause disability, deformity, blindness and death. These include intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), river blindness, trachoma and lymphatic filariasis.

In addition, Prerna Banati, from The Global Fund will explore geographical contributions to evaluating AIDS, and Dr Kara Hanson, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will discuss how to deliver disease control interventions.

Programme

Africa: Health Matters?

10.15 Introduction and welcome by Sir Gordon Conway, President of Royal Geographical Society and Professor in International Development at Imperial College London

10.30 Keynote speech Professor William Makogoba, Vice Chancellor, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

11.45 Schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases in Africa, Professor Alan Fenwick, Director of the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative and Professor of Tropical Parasitology, Imperial College London

12.15 The Global Grand Challenge of Malaria: From Research to Intervention, Professor Fotis Kafatos, Chair in Immunogenomics, Imperial College London

13.45 The Challenge of Capacity Development, Dr Mark Walport, Director, The Wellcome Trust

14.00 The AIDS pandemic: continuing development in Africa, Professor Sir Roy Anderson, Rector Elect, Imperial College London

15.15 Advances in understanding the impact of AIDS: geographical contributions, Prerna Banati, The Global Fund

15.45 Health economics and policy, Dr Kara Hanson, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

16.30 Closing keynote speech, Sir David King, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government

For a full programme please visit: Africa: Health Matters? programme

The event will take place at the Education Centre, Royal Geographical Society, Exhibition Road, South Kensington.

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Journalists wishing to attend should contact:
Naomi Weston
Press Officer
Imperial College London
Email: n.weston@imperial.ac.uk 
Tel: 020 7594 6704
Out of hours duty press officer: 07803 886 248

Or

Henry Rummins
Press and PR Officer
The Royal Geographical Society with IBG
Email: h.rummins@rgs.org 
Tel: 0207 591 3019

Notes to editors:

1) The conference aims to raise awareness of the UK’s track record and future contributions to African healthcare matters and to highlight the Africa agenda within the UK scientific community.

2) The day forms part of the Royal Geographical Society with IBG’s Environment & Society Forum, which exists to contribute insight to key social, economic and environmental challenges facing Britain and the world by bringing together the business, research, non-governmental and policy-making communities within a neutral and respected setting. The event also forms part of Imperial College London’s Centenary celebrations.

About Imperial College London

Rated as the world's fifth best university in the 2007 Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts over 12,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

With 66 Fellows of the Royal Society among our current academic staff and distinguished past members of the College including 14 Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medallists, Imperial's contribution to society has been immense. Inventions and innovations include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of our research for the benefit of all continues today with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle climate change and mathematical modelling to predict and control the spread of infectious diseases.

The College's 100 years of living science will be celebrated throughout 2007 with a range of events to mark the Centenary of the signing of Imperial's founding charter on 8 July 1907.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk

About the RGS:

The Royal Geographical Society with The Institute of British Geographers is the learned society and professional body representing geography and geographers. It was founded in 1830 and has been one of the most active of the learned societies ever since. It was pivotal in establishing geography as a teaching and research discipline in British universities, and has played a key role in geographical and environmental education ever since. Today the Society is a leading world centre for geographical learning - supporting education, teaching, research and scientific expeditions, as well as promoting public understanding and enjoyment of geography.

Website: www.rgs.org