The Mectizan Donation Program welcomes new Deputy Director, Dr. Pascal Lutumba

Dr. Pascal Lutumba Tshindele has joined the Mectizan Donation Program staff on 25 May 2017. Dr. Lutumba will serve as director Dr. Yao Sodahlon’s deputy director in charge of all scientific and programme management-related decisions that govern MDP’s work.

Among other important tasks, Dr. Lutumba will:

• facilitate the supply of Mectizan for the global elimination of onchocerciasis and for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in African countries where the two diseases are co-endemic,

• promote best practices for safe and effective implementation of mass drug administration with Mectizan,

• raise awareness of the potential for adverse events (AEs) and monitor the reporting of any AE occurred following the administration of the medicine,

• represent MDP in technical meetings and collaborate with partners on onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis elimination,

Dr. Lutumba is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He received his medical degree from the Université de Lubumbashi in DRC, a master of science in disease control from the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp in Belgium, and a PhD in public health from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He has extensive experience in research and programme implementation for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and has worked on trypanosomiasis, Buruli ulcer, schistosomiasis, and soil transmitted helminthiasis.

Prior to joining MDP, Dr. Lutumba served in a number of roles including Country Coordinator for the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp’s project to control trypanosomiasis in DRC. He is also a professor in the department of tropical medicine at the University of Kinshasa as well as the Head of Epidemiology Department at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale of Kinshasa. He is currently a WHO Expert in NTD innovative and intensified disease management and a visiting professor at the University of Antwerp and the Lubumbashi University in DRC teaching research methodology, epidemiology, and disease control.