Engaging partnerships and global coordination for Buruli ulcer

The Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative (GBUI) is a partnership of Member States, academic and research institutions, donors, nongovernmental organizations, WHO and others which was established in 1998. This initiative is dedicated to raising awareness about Buruli ulcer disease in the context of NTDs at all levels in order to increase its profile and obtain commitments from governments, policy-makers and donors for research and control; and for support and development of capacity for the health systems of endemic countries to improve access to early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disability.

GBUI also seeks to strengthen Buruli ulcer surveillance systems and assess the disease burden at local, national and global levels as well as in promoting and supporting priority research to develop better tools for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Buruli ulcer. In 1998 and 2009, WHO convened two high-level meetings in Cote d’Ivoire and Benin resulting in the Yamoussoukro and Cotonou Declarations respectively.

Every two years, WHO organizes a general meeting in Geneva that brings together representatives from the ministries of health of the affected countries, nongovernmental organizations and research institutions involved in Buruli ulcer (BU) activities to encourage the exchange of new scientific and public health information on the disease, and to coordinate efforts among all partners. These meetings have been instrumental in catalysing the progress made on Buruli ulcer.