XIV International Symposium on Schistosomiasis
This symposium, the main scientific event specifically dedicated to schistosomiasis, is carried out by the group of researchers in schistosomiasis at FIOCRUZ and aims to bring together the actors involved in the generation of knowledge, products, public policies and health managers to join efforts and accelerate the process of schistosomiasis elimination as a public health problem. In this way, the symposium contributes to promoting the exercise of full citizenship by the population of the areas affected by the disease.
Eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem requires close collaboration among research groups with different expertise and their interaction with public health policymakers and control program managers in Brazil and other endemic countries. Thus, the International Symposium on Schistosomiasis represents an opportunity for training, interaction and exchange of experiences among its participants, being of vital importance for the elaboration of actions aimed at the affected populations. Only by joining forces and expertise, will it be possible to translate the knowledge produced in the research and educational institutions into concrete actions, policies and products that are so necessary for the success of the program for control and elimination of schistosomiasis.
The topics to be addressed in the 16th edition of the symposium involve initiatives for disease control and elimination, such as sensitive diagnostic tests, vaccine, drug development and intermediate host control. The improvement of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategies in health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) will also be addressed, as well as epidemiological, clinical and biological aspects of the parasite and its hosts. Thus, the programming of this edition of the symposium will cover basic and applied topics, ranging from “molecular to social”, from "discovery to action" and from "knowledge to product".