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Video Series: Innovative Approaches to Combat Schistosomiasis (Updated)
Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases. While it can be safely and effectively treated in school-aged children and adults, an estimated 50 million preschool-aged children have been left untreated in public health programs primarily due to the lack of an appropriate child-friendly medication.
GHIT Fund has supported and invested in the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium's development of a new treatment for preschool-aged children since 2013.
We have released videos of interviews with Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium’ s partners, Merck and Astellas Pharma, and then with Ministries of Health from African countries about the fight against schistosomiasis.
The final episode is a long interview with Dr. Kojima (Astellas Pharma Inc.), who was involved in research and development. Please take a look.
1. Innovative path for development of new pediatric treatment
Jeremy Grossas
 Representative Director and President, Merck Biopharma, Japan
 Beatrice Greco
 Head of R&D and Access, Global Health Institute of Merck
2. Combating Schistosomiasis in Tanzania
Dr. Clarer Jones Mwansasu
 NTD Program Manager, 
 Ministry of Health, United Republic of Tanzania
3. Combating Schistosomiasis in Uganda
Dr. Alfred Mubangizi
 Assistant Commissioner, Health Services
 Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases.(VB & NTD), Uganda
4. Combating Schistosomiasis in Senegal
Dr. Mamadou Moustapha Diop
Head of Disease Control Department ,Senegal
5. Combating Schistosomiasis in Kenya
Dr. Sultani Hadley Matendechero
 Deputy Director General for Health State Department for
 Public Health and Professional Standards
 Ministry of Health, Kenya
6. Researchers Fighting against Schistosomiasis
Dr. Hiroyuki Kojima
Senior Vice President,
Head of Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Labs
CMC Development, Astellas Pharma Inc.
Dr. Seiji Takae
 Research Fellow, Drug Product Development
Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Labs
CMC Development, Astellas Pharma Inc.
7. New Pediatric Treatment for Schistosomiasis
 - Astellas's Sustainability Efforts-
Dr. Shingo Iino
 Vice president, Sustainability
 Astellas Pharma Inc.
 Ms. Izumi Fujii
 Manager, Access to Health Sustainability
 Astellas Pharma Inc.
8. Schistosomiasis: The Power of Partnership
Dr. Hiroyuki Kojima
Senior Vice President,
Head of Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Labs
CMC Development, Astellas Pharma Inc.