Institut Tropical et de Santé Publique Suisse (Swiss TPH)

04.04.2024

Une nouvelle découverte dévoile le mécanisme d'invasion du paludisme

Découverte d'un élément clé de l'invasion du paludisme

Swiss TPH "Une récente découverte permet de mieux comprendre comment le parasite du paludisme, Plasmodium falciparum, envahit les globules rouges humains. L'étude, menée par l'Institut Tropical et de Santé Publique Suisse (Swiss TPH) et le Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics, révèle le rôle d'un sucre appelé acide sialique dans ce processus d'invasion. Les résultats, publiés hier dans Cell Reports, ont des implications majeures pour le développement de vaccins et de médicaments contre le paludisme. Avec 249 millions de cas de paludisme et 608 000 décès en 2022, le paludisme reste une menace sanitaire mondiale persistante. Le parasite du paludisme Plasmodium falciparum est la principale cause de paludisme grave et responsable de la plus grande partie des décès dus au paludisme."

02.04.2024

Parasitic Worms and Liver Disease in Rural Laos

Swiss TPH "A study published by Swiss TPH and partners in Lao PDR has revealed high rates of Steatotic Liver Disease in a rural region where liver fluke infections and diabetes are prevalent. Surprisingly, an infection with parasitic worms was inversely associated with the prevalence of Steatotic Liver Disease. The study sheds some light on the important interplay between infectious and non-communicable diseases."

01.03.2024

Noma: giving a face to a deadly disease

On December 15, 2023, the World Health Organization officially added noma to the list of neglected tropical diseases, which will make it easier to combat and research this poverty-related disease. Swiss TPH and the University of Basel both played a key role in ensuring noma was recognized in this manner. By Christian Heuss

SwissTPH "Many people prefer to look the other way when it comes to this disease, as the sight of young children suffering from its effects is unbearable. It causes open wounds on the face and whole sections of the cheek appear to have been eaten away. Children who survive the disease remain disfigured throughout their lives and struggle with speech disorders and eating problems. Noma typically affects children between two and six years of age. The disease starts seemingly harmless as sore gums and mild bad breath. At this stage, the disease would be easy to cure with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. If left untreated, the infection spreads to tissue necrosis within a few days. First soft tissues die, then cartilage structures and bones are attacked and literally eaten away by the infection."

01.03.2024

Swiss TPH Symposium: Improving Access to Healthcare in LMICs

Summary of the Symposium 8 February 2024

SwissTPH "Access to drugs, diagnostics and vaccines remains a challenge in many in low- and middle-income countries. Today, 8 February 2024, Swiss TPH hosted a symposium bringing together 350 experts and key players from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, politics and product development partnerships to assess current strategies and foster synergies in research, drug development and medicines’ implementation.

02.02.2024

Reducing Health Inequities in the Prevention of Cervical Cancer

Swiss TPH "Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Women living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than those who are HIV negative. To tackle this issue, Swiss TPH together with partners developed the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Care Cascade – a framework to enhance cervical cancer screening programmes for women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa."

12.01.2024

EMA Recommends Arpraziquantel for Treatment of Schistosomiasis in Preschool-Aged Children

Swiss TPH "Arpraziquantel, developed by the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, receives positive scientific opinion by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children. The Consortium's work to develop, register, and provide access to arpraziquantel is a tangible contribution to the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem. As a member of the consortium, Swiss TPH conducted the clinical trials together with local partners."

12.01.2024

Swiss TPH's Centre for Tropical and Travel Medicine Now in the “Turmhaus” at Aeschenplatz

Swiss TPH "On Tuesday, 9 January 2024, the new location of the Centre for Tropical and Travel Medicine was officially opened in the “Turmhaus” at Aeschenplatz 2. The Centre for Tropical and Travel Medicine is part of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH). Eva Herzog, President of the Swiss Council of States and President of the Board of Governors of Swiss TPH, gave a welcome address to guests from the healthcare sector, politics and academia. Lukas Engelberger, Cantonal Councillor Basel-Stadt, was also among the guests."

12.01.2024

Lutte contre la surprescription d’antibiotiques chez les enfants : une innovation helvético-tanzanienne aux résultats prometteurs

Swiss TPH "Une étude à grande échelle du projet DYNAMIC montre des résultats prometteurs : l’utilisation du nouvel outil numérique de décision clinique a permis de réduire de deux à trois fois la prescription d’antibiotiques. Ces résultats, qui viennent d’être publiés dans la prestigieuse revue scientifique Nature Medicine, marquent une étape importante dans l’endiguement de la résistance aux antibiotiques."

12.01.2024

Limited Trust in Health Systems Hinders Universal Health Coverage

Swiss TPH "A series of papers in the Lancet Global Health published yesterday finds that only one-quarter of people thinks their health system works well. The People’s Voice Survey analysed people’s views and trust in the system in 15 countries, adding a missing component to how one evaluates health system performance. Swiss TPH contributed to these studies, which were led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Quality Evidence for Health System Transformation (QuEST) network."

19.12.2023

Milestone in the Fight Against Sleeping Sickness

Swiss TPH "The European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion of fexinidazole for the treatment of T.b. rhodesiense sleeping sickness, found in Eastern and Southern Africa. The positive opinion is followed a clinical trial conducted by the HAT-r-ACC Consortium, of which Swiss TPH is a part. This is an important milestone in the fight against this acute and lethal form of the neglected tropical disease."

04.12.2023

Kelly Chibale: Learning to Fail Your Way to Success

Swiss TPH "Kelly Chibale was – to say the least – not born into science. Yet, he has become one of the most influential researchers in the field of drug discovery and development globally. Born in a rural part of Zambia, Kelly’s childhood was a struggle for bare survival. There was no running water, let alone television to provide entertainment. Instead, dusty roads, poverty and violence. “Education, which was free at the time, was the only way out of poverty for me,” Kelly Chibale recalls. Secondary school awakened in him a talent and fascination for chemistry. Mixing liquids to make them appear in new colours turned out to be a real miracle."

09.11.2023

The Politics of Pandemics: Navigating the Global Landscape

by Jürg Utzinger, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of Swiss TPH

Swiss TPH "The politics of pandemics is about more than just health. It is about how we work across sectors, balancing the complex interplay between health, politics and conflicts, ensuring equity and security in times of crisis. The lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic should guide us towards a safer and more resilient future. Proactive global health governance, based on science, diplomacy and solidarity, is key to tackling future crises. (...) The political dimension of pandemics is reflected in how nations choose to share data and information, allocate resources and work together for a common goal. Countries that foster diplomatic relations and support international initiatives are better equipped to respond effectively to pandemics. A new International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response will be discussed at next year’s World Health Assembly, including roles and responsibilities on how to deal with pandemics by the international community."

09.11.2023

Long-term Partnership in Tanzania Improves Access to Healthcare

Swiss TPH "The Health Promotion and System Strengthening (HPSS) project, funded by SDC and implemented by Swiss TPH, supported the Government of Tanzania in addressing major challenges of the health system. Over the past 12 years, the project improved access, quality, and affordability of healthcare with innovative solutions, like the "improved Community Health Fund" (iCHF), which provides affordable health insurance for low-income populations. HPSS substantially strengthened the pharmaceutical sector, health technology management, and health promotion, recognising the importance of community involvement for lasting improvements."

29.09.2023

30 Years of R&D Towards New Drugs for Tropical Diseases

Swiss TPH "In today’s interconnected world marked by complex challenges, looking back serves as a compass for charting the way forward. As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), it is an opportune moment to reflect on our journey. Join me as I delve into one notable aspect of our history: the research and development (R&D) of new drugs for tropical diseases."

08.09.2023

Des scientifiques appliquent la théorie des jeux pour combattre la rage

Swiss TPH "L’élimination de la rage en Afrique pourrait être à portée de main grâce à une approche plus coordonnée de «One Health». Une étude innovatrice menée par le Swiss TPH et ses partenaires applique la théorie des jeux pour relever les défis de la rage et identifier des stratégies efficaces pour les pays touchés. L’article publié aujourd’hui dans Nature Communications démontre qu’une approche plus coordonnée pourrait mettre fin à cette maladie mortelle et se traduire par des gains sanitaires, économiques et sociaux majeurs. La rage est une maladie tropicale négligée (Neglected Tropical Disease, NTD) qui cause encore environ 59000 décès par an, dont beaucoup d’enfants. La maladie se transmet presque exclusivement par des morsures de chien, et une fois les symptômes apparus, elle est mortelle à 100. La rage peut être évitée en vaccinant les chiens et en évitant les morsures de chiens."

08.08.2023

The long road to schistosomiasis elimination in Zanzibar: A systematic review covering 100 years of research, interventions and control milestones

A new study by Swiss TPH and partners

Science Direct "Zanzibar is among the few places in sub-Saharan Africa where interruption of Schistosoma transmission seems an achievable goal. A new study by Swiss TPH and partners reviews 100 years of research and efforts to control schistosomiasis in Zanzibar. We have contributed to these efforts through our long-standing research into the disease. The review identify milestones in the fight against the parasitic worm disease. A major achievement was the reduction of infected individuals from historically over 50% to under 5% in 2020, leading to a substantial improvement in the health for the Zanzibari population. While challenges remain, the results published in Advances in Parasitology suggest that with sustained commitments, the transmission of the disease could be stopped by 2030."

07.08.2023

Moderate Temperatures Also Cause Death – Not Only Extreme Heat

Swiss TPH "Recent analyses by Swiss TPH show that not only heat waves, but also moderately hot temperatures, contribute to heat-related fatalities. On behalf of the Swiss federal government, Swiss TPH now monitors heat-related deaths in Switzerland on an annual basis. This monitoring provides a long-term record of the effects of climate change on health and helps to identify adaptation measures."

24.05.2023

Le nouveau traitement contre les infections par des vers parasites chez l’homme montre une grande efficacité

Communiqué de presse

Swiss TPH "Un nouveau candidat médicament donne des résultats prometteurs dans le traitement des infections par des vers parasites. Des chercheurs du Swiss TPH ont testé l’efficacité et la sécurité de l’emodepside contre les trois plus importants helminthes transmis par le sol sur l’île Pemba en Tanzanie. L’emodepside est le premier nouveau médicament prometteur contre les infections par des vers parasites depuis plusieurs décennies. Le Swiss TPH travaillera désormais avec Bayer afin de poursuivre le développement du médicament."

02.05.2023

Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement

Swiss TPH "Although malaria can be prevented and treated, global investment in the fight against the disease is declining. World Malaria Day is therefore a reminder that the goal of a malaria-free world must remain on the political agenda, both in Switzerland and on a global scale. To mark the day, Swiss TPH experts hosted a panel discussion on 25 April 2023 to discuss the current work on malaria tools and interventions and future priorities."

28.04.2023

New Midwife Care Model Improves Well-Being of Vulnerable Families

Swiss TPH "A new home-based midwife care model has shown promise in improving the well-being of women in vulnerable family situations and preventing early chronic childhood stress according to a new study published recently in BMC Health Services Research. The new model of care resulted from a partnership between the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and Familystart in Basel, Switzerland. Such a model of care could be applied to all Swiss cantons."

03.04.2023

Mathematical Modelling to Inform Next-Generation Malaria Interventions

Swiss TPH "Global progress against malaria has stagnated and novel medical interventions are urgently needed. In a new publication, researchers from Swiss TPH and the Gates Medical Research Institute describe how modelling evidence is crucial for accelerating the development of new malaria vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and chemoprevention. Results were published today in Communications Medicine from Nature."

03.04.2023

Swiss TPH Symposium on Tuberculosis: A Call to Action

Swiss TPH "More than 10 million people fall sick with tuberculosis (TB) every year. The disease remains one of the world’s biggest killers with 1.6 million annual deaths. In recent years, efforts and funding to fight TB have been overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) is currently holding a 2-day symposium in Allschwil, Switzerland in order to share the latest findings in TB research, raise public awareness and drive policy change. Scientists, experts and decision-makers are discussing findings and ideas to spark the global efforts to eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2030."

27.01.2023

Les experts appellent à une coopération renforcée entre la santé humaine, animale et environnementale

Communiqué de presse

Swiss TPH "La pandémie de COVID-19 a révélé les faiblesses des réseaux mondiaux de sécurité sanitaire. Une approche globale «One Health» est essentielle pour prévenir, surveiller et répondre aux futures crises sanitaires. C'est ce que soutiennent les auteurs d'une série de quatre articles publiés hier dans The Lancet. Le Swiss TPH, avec sa longue expérience dans le domaine One Health, a contribué à cette série. (...) Jakob Zinsstag, responsable de l'unité Human and Animal Health du Swiss TPH et auteur principal du premier article de la série, a déclaré : «Il existe des évidences claires des avantages en termes de vies humaines et animales sauvées et d'économies financières d'une collaboration étroite en matière de santé à l'interface homme-animal-environnement.»

18.01.2023

Supporting countries on their path to universal health coverage

Swiss TPH designs and implements health insurance solutions

Swiss TPH "Every year, 100 million people are pushed into poverty because they have to pay out of pocket for healthcare. To make sure that people can access health services without financial hardship, many countries have committed to ensuring universal health coverage and social protection. Swiss TPH provides tailor-made support to these countries."

18.01.2023

R. Geigy Award 2022 Goes to Three Researchers for Work on Malaria and Tuberculosis Control in Africa

Swiss TPH " Researchers Lorenz Hofer and Mgeni Tambwe are trying to stop malaria transmission in Tanzania. Astrid Knoblauch is distributing drugs to combat tuberculosis with the help of drones in Madagascar. For this, the R. Geigy Foundation awards them with the 12th R. Geigy Award 2022, endowed with CHF 20,000. In memory of the biologist and founder of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Rudolf Geigy, the Foundation awards this prize every two years to young researchers and public health specialists who distinguish themselves through outstanding achievements in the field of poverty-related and neglected tropical diseases."

16.01.2023

Eva Herzog Elected as New President of the Swiss TPH Board of Governors

Swiss TPH "The governments of the two Basel cantons have elected Eva Herzog, member of the Council of States of Canton Basel-Stadt, as the new President of the Board of Governors of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH). Herzog will begin her new role on 1 January 2023. The Board of Governors is the highest decision-making and supervisory body of Swiss TPH. The President is jointly elected by the governments of both Canton Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft."

16.01.2023

Jürg Utzinger Elected New President of the R. Geigy Foundation

Swiss TPH "The R. Geigy Foundation Board elected Jürg Utzinger, Director of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), as the new President of the R. Geigy Foundation as of 1 January 2023, succeeding Marcel Tanner, who chaired the Foundation for 25 years. "I am delighted to be leading the R. Geigy Foundation as President from January 2023," said Utzinger. "Over the past decades, the R. Geigy Foundation has developed into a strategically important vessel for Swiss TPH. Especially young researchers have been able to benefit from targeted start-up funding, which allowed them to propel their potential."

02.12.2022

New Project to Improve the Care of Patients with Non-Communicable Diseases in Kosovo

Swiss TPH "Diabetes affects about half a billion people worldwide, most of them in low- and middle-income countries. Every year, 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes, and both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes are constantly increasing. In Kosovo, diabetes is highly prevalent, yet often poorly controlled or undiagnosed. A new project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Swiss TPH aims to tackle the burden of non-communicable diseases in Kosovo by supporting the development of a sustainable health system that provides high quality, affordable and integrated care for affected patients."

02.12.2022

Improving Diagnosis for Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

Swiss TPH "Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s biggest infectious disease killers. It is a complicated disease to diagnose and treat, even more so when it affects organs outside of the lung. A clinical trial in Tanzania tested a diagnostic algorithm including point-of-care ultrasound to increase the proportion of correctly managed patients. While the proportion of correctly managed patients could not be increased, the study indicates that this diagnostic algorithm could be a feasible approach to increase confirmation of TB. This is the first clinical randomized controlled trial successfully conducted at the St. Francis Referral Hospital in Ifakara, highlighting the excellent clinical research knowhow and collaboration between the Ifakara Health Institute, Swiss TPH, and other partners. The results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Infectious Diseases."

02.12.2022

World AIDS Day 2022 - Equity for all!

Swiss TPH "(...) For this years’ World AIDS Day, CDCI and the Ifakara Health Institute have teamed up with the district AIDS coordinator in Ifakara to celebrate World AIDS Day – to meet people in the community and raise a loud voice for equity for those infected with HIV or at risk to become infected. During the day, HIV testing will be offered together with other preventive health measures, and people living with HIV will share how HIV has affected their lives and how they manage to live a normal life in the community. Games for children, dances and theatre plays will convey the message of U=U (undetectable equals untransmittable), claiming equity for all!"

06.11.2022

Current Recommended Treatment against Whipworm Shows Better Results than New Drug Combination

Swiss TPH "Swiss TPH researchers tested two different drug combinations against the parasitic worm Trichuris trichiura on Pemba Island, Tanzania. Findings show that a new treatment combination (moxidectin and albendazole) is inferior compared to the current recommended treatment combination (ivermectin and albendazole). However, moxidectin might serve as an alternative in areas in which ivermectin is not readily available or potentially where there are resistances against ivermectin. Results were published on 28 October in the Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal. More than 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with soil-transmitted helminths. The infections occur mainly in tropical and subtropical areas in sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, China and East Asia and is closely linked to poverty. Infections can lead to nutrient deficiency, anaemia, and impaired growth, thus children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to these detrimental effects. Soil-transmitted helminth infections are caused by several species of parasitic worms. One of them is the whipworm Trichuris trichiura."

05.11.2022

Multiscale transmission dynamics of rabies in Africa: The urban-rural interface

Swiss TPH "Researchers at Swiss TPH have launched a new project focused on rabies control in Chad with the help of artificial intelligence. Read more about how the research project takes a transdisciplinary One Health approach and uses public engagement and multilingual communication to achieve results. Dog mediated rabies, although entirely preventable, kills every year over 25,000 people in Africa. It has been demonstrated that rabies transmission can be interrupted with successful dog mass vaccination in N’Djamena, the capital city of Chad. However, most of the strategies to control and eliminate human rabies still stagnate mainly due to a lack of resources to support such interventions. One way that we can tackle rabies in Africa is by introducing relatively new, low-cost interventions, which is what our research project on Rabies Control in Chad aims to address."

07.10.2022

Organizations that bring science to impact – new actors for Sustainable Development?

Swiss TPH "Currently, world leaders are convening at the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York. In parallel, the Science Summit is being held, with the central theme being the role and contribution of science in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Jasmina Saric reflects on the emergence, role and future of organisations that combine research and implementation for sustainable development. New findings on this topic will be presented at the Science Summit in a session convened by Swiss TPH."

12.09.2022

Coping with emerging public health problems

Interview with Nicole Probst-Hensch, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Swiss TPH

Swiss TPH "Around a quarter of the population in Switzerland suffers from chronic diseases. These are some of the most frequent causes of death and cause physical and mental stress as well as high health care costs. Swiss TPH has extensive expertise in long-term studies involving biobanks that conduct research into chronic diseases and the impact of behavioural and environmental factors. Samples stored in biobanks and linked to the health data of the sample donors supply the evidence for successful prevention and health promotion. They also help us to understand the long-term health impacts of air pollution, heatwaves, traffic noise or chemicals. Swiss TPH is therefore making an important contribution to health monitoring in collaboration with other research institutions. In addition, biobanks are also the bedrock of medical progress in the early detection and diagnosis of chronic diseases, especially in cooperation with private companies."

04.08.2022

The significance of effective communication in times of COVID-19

Swiss TPH "Access to information is a basic human right. In times of crisis, timely and accurate information plays an important role in controlling a situation. Our partners of the AQH project share how effective communication saved lives during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo. In Kosovo, as in many other places worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by another contagious phenomenon, namely disinformation or fake news. Conspiracy theories around COVID-19 vaccines also met interest in Kosovo and the wider Balkan region."

04.08.2022

Digital Tool Improves Quality of Care for Children

Swiss TPH "Digital tools are critical to improve the care for sick children, particularly in resource-constrained settings. In a new study, Swiss TPH and partners were able to show the positive impact of a digital clinical decision support system on improving the management of childhood illness in primary care in Nigeria. The findings, published in BMJ Open, support the use of digital tools for health systems strengthening on a broader scale."

08.07.2022

Nicole Probst-Hensch Wins Science Award of the City of Basel

Swiss TPH "Nicole Probst-Hensch, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Swiss TPH, has been awarded this year's Science Award by the City of Basel. She received this prize for her pioneering research on the effects of air pollution on human health and her achievements in establishing biobanks and longterm cohort studies."

01.06.2022

Swiss TPH Awarded Four New Research Grants in Paediatric Health

Swiss TPH "Swiss TPH has been awarded four out of six new research grants from the Principal Investigator Initiative of the Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH). The initiative aims to drive interdisciplinary research that addresses critical challenges in global paediatric health and medicine. (...) The projects bring together researchers from its partner institutions and international partners to deliver innovations and intervention strategies for paediatric health diagnosis, disease treatment and prevention on a global scale. Swiss TPH and partners were successful in this highly competitive call, and will obtain funding for four out of six exciting research projects. Each project is supported with up to CHF 1 million for a duration of four years."

01.06.2022

Les cas de légionellose continuent d’augmenter en Suisse

Swiss TPH "Le nombre de cas de légionellose en Suisse a quintuplé au cours des 20 dernières années. Une étude de l’Institut Tropical et de Santé Publique Suisse (Swiss TPH), publiée aujourd’hui dans l’International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, a analysé le nombre de cas entre 2000 et 2020, et déterminé l’impact potentiel de la pandémie COVID-19 sur les déclarations. Les chercheurs ont également constaté que les pics estivaux de légionellose se sont accentués ces dernières années. La Suisse présente l’une des incidences de légionellose les plus élevées d’Europe."

07.02.2022

Assessing the Potential Health Impact of Omicron

Swiss TPH Cases of SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron are surging in numerous settings, with early evidence suggesting Omicron is more infectious than the Delta variant. It is not yet known, however, if Omicron has higher severity or if vaccines are less effective. New research from Swiss TPH now provides guidance to decision-makers on Omicron’s potential public health impact for a range of different scenarios. The paper is currently under review and available as pre-print.

03.02.2022

Une analyse sur 20 ans révèle que le contrôle du paludisme chez les jeunes enfants sauve des vies à l'âge adulte

Une étude menée en Tanzanie sur 6700 enfants pendant plus de 20 ans met en evidence les avantages de santé à long terme de l’utilisation de moustiquaires.

Swiss TPH Les moustiquaires sauvent des vies sur le long terme: voici le résultat d’une étude menée en Tanzanie sur 22 ans, indiquant pour la première fois que les jeunes enfants qui dorment sous une moustiquaire ont plus de chances d’atteindre l’âge adulte. Cette étude, publiée dans le New England Journal of Medicine, a suivi plus de 6700 enfants entre 1998 et 2003 et puis les a revus en 2019 pour vérifier ce qu’ils étaient devenus.

06.12.2021

Elimination à l’horizon: la prévalence de la schistosomiase, une maladie tropicale négligée, diminue de près de 60%

Swiss TPH "Dans une nouvelle étude menée par l’Institut Tropical et de Santé Publique Suisse (Swiss TPH), les chercheurs ont établi que la prévalence de la schistosomiase chez les enfants d’âge scolaire a diminué de près de 60% entre 2000 et 2019 du fait de l’administration de médicaments à grande échelle et du développement social et économique du continent africain. Les constats laissent espérer l’élimination de cette maladie tropicale négligée majeure. L’étude a été publiée hier dans le journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases."

23.09.2021

New WHO Air Quality Guidelines Aim to Save Millions of Lives from Air Pollution

Swiss TPH "Today, the World Health Organization launched their new Global Air Quality Guidelines, which aims to protect the health of populations by reducing key air pollutants. Drawing on expertise from over 30 years of research on air pollution and health, Swiss TPH contributed to the new set of guidelines by generating evidence through multiple long-term studies and providing policy advice. The guidelines will serve as a tool for policy makers to guide legislation to combat air pollution and climate change."

06.09.2021

Collateral Damage of COVID-19 on Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Swiss TPH The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on both human health, the economy and society at large. There is no doubt that the disease and control measures indirectly effect people’s health and well-being, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the crisis has amplified and deepened existing inequalities. To mitigate the collateral damage, Swiss TPH worked on a myriad of projects to support vulnerable populations around the globe.

08.07.2021

Swiss TPH Symposium: Global Health in the 21st Century

Presentations and Session Recordings

Swiss TPH Though much progress has been made in improving global health, many new obstacles have emerged. On 28-30 June 2021, Swiss TPH hosted a virtual symposium 'Global Health in the 21st Century', which brought together experts from the public, private, non-profit and governmental sectors to discuss the pressing global health issues of our time.

30.05.2021

Together, we can make the world a healthier place

Annual Report 2020

Swiss TPH "We are delighted to present to you the Swiss TPH Annual Report 2020, which reflects on this past year’s highlights and milestones, goes in-depth into a newly acquired portfolio of COVID-19 related projects, provides an overview of key facts and figures and much more. At the heart of this report lies the commitment of our staff and students and the terrific support of our partners and funders all over the world. We would like to thank our colleagues, partners and donors for their continued trust and collaboration. Together, we will emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to work together towards our mission of making the world a healthier place."

29.04.2021

Jeunes3 Programme Comes to a Close

JeuneS3 reached over 45,000 young people in schools and more than 10,000 young people out of schools in the DRC

Swiss TPH The JeuneS3 (Santé, Sécurité, Sexualité) programme, which focused on improving adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health in four Francophone African countries, has come to a close after four successful years. Swiss TPH, within a consortia led by Cordaid, contributed to the implementation of the national life skills education programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which supported young people being able to make informed decisions about their health, and to ensure that their rights are respected.

Med in Switzerland #28

Février 2021

COVID-19 : Avons-nous vraiment tiré les leçons du passé ? Dimensions mondiales avec un accent sur l’Afrique

Une analyse de Marcel Tanner, président des Académies suisses des sciences et ancien directeur de la SwissTPH

La pandémie de SARS-CoV-2 a entraîné de graves dommages collatéraux dans de nombreux systèmes sanitaires et sociaux dans le monde, en particulier en Afrique. Dans le même temps, la crise révèle également un grand potentiel d’innovation dans la recherche et le développement de nouveaux médicaments et vaccins.

Improving Access to COVID-19 Screening and Testing in African Countries

A joint initiative between several collaborator inlcuding the Swiss TPH and SolidarMed

Swiss TPH A new joint initiative from the Botnar Research Centre for Child Health and the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership will support three COVID-19-related projects in low- and middle-income countries, including a project led by Swiss TPH and Zambart that improves access to COVID-19 screening and testing in Lesotho and Zambia.

Med in Switzerland #27

Janvier 2021

Une triple victoire est à portée de main

La pandémie de Covid-19 offre une chance de tirer des enseignements pour désamorcer la crise climatique.

Comme pour la Covid-19, les effets du changement climatique sur la santé mondiale sont difficiles à imaginer intuitivement mais sont scientifiquement prévisibles. Lors de la crise de la Covid-19, nous avons été contraints de modifier des comportements que nous n’avions pratiquement jamais remis en question pour des raisons de commodité. Il a été démontré qu’agir prématurément s’avère payant. Outre les épreuves qu’elle a apportées, l’année 2020 nous a appris ce qui est vraiment crucial pour une bonne qualité de vie. Si nous ne nous contentons pas de rejeter l’année 2020 comme une période noire pour revenir au « courant normal », mais que nous nous laissons aussi guider par ces expériences, une triple victoire est à portée de main : l’amélioration de la santé publique, la création d’une économie durable et la protection de l’environnement.