Dr. Mwele Malecela hands over presidency of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis to Korea

Dr. Mwele Ntuli Malecela PhD, Chief Research Scientist and Director of Research Coordination and Promotion, National Institute for Medical Research hands over the presidency of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis during the sixth meeting of GAELF in Korea to Dr. Jong Koo Lee Vice Minister for Health of the Republic of Korea and Head of the Korean Centers for Disease Control
Mwele Ntuli Malecela PhD, Chief Research Scientist, Director of Research Coordination and Promotion, and acting Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research, makes her speech

Dr Malecela addresses the participants
Dr. Mwele Malecela has handed over presidency of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis during the sixth meeting of GAELF in Korea. The Presidency was handed over in a colorful ceremony to Dr Jong Koo Lee Vice Minister for Health of the Republic of Korea and Head of the Korean Centers for Disease Control.


During the handover ceremony, Dr Malecela handed over a spear as a sign to continue with the elimination effort a shield to protect the areas where progress has been made and a Masai blanket to denote continued partnership.


The theme of the meeting was linked to the world cup and was “half time to elimination teaming up with Neglected Tropical Diseases”. In 1997 The World Health Assembly agreed on the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis by the year 2020, so this year was “half time” a year to take stock of what is currently going on and how to move forward as we move towards elimination.


The colorful meeting was attended by 150 delegates from all over the world. Dr Malecela who was also Chairperson of the Alliance since 2006 handed over chairmanship to Prof Maged El Setouhy of Egypt after two terms as chairperson.


Members praised Dr Malecela for her hard work in advocating for LF worldwide and the great work she had done for the Alliance.

In her speech Dr Malecela thanked the support she received from the Alliance and most of all from her country, Tanzania. Special acknowledgement was made for the support from President Kikwete through the Presidents LF Funds.