Parasitic-disease medicines receive a shared prize

WHO’s event notice advocated identifying and supporting qualified traditional health practitioners.

The 2015 event called for systems to protect patients from potentially harmful practices.

The observance raised how countries might recognize practitioners while safeguarding the public.

The prize announcement recognized her discovery of a novel malaria therapy.

Tu’s research had consulted old medical literature while combining it with modern laboratory testing.

The prize drew attention to a Chinese research network whose contributions had often been less visible internationally.

Mexico was verified as having eliminated onchocerciasis transmission.

Repeated ivermectin treatment in endemic areas helped stop transmission.

The verification followed earlier successes in Colombia and Ecuador.

Public health teams used community-wide treatment and surveillance.