Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative

The Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative (GBUI) is a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative to coordinate global efforts to control Buruli ulcer,[1] an infectious disease characterized by the development of painless open wounds.[2] It was started in 1998[3] after a 1997 visit to Côte d'Ivoire by Hiroshi Nakajima, who was then the general director of the WHO,[4] recognizing the lack of research and a growing disease burden.[5]

Initially established with funding from the Nippon Foundation, as of 2020 the GBUI involves more than 40 nongovernmental organizations, research institutions, and other foundations.[4] A 2004 WHO resolution "called for increasing surveillance and control, and for intensified research to develop tools to diagnose, treat and prevent" Buruli ulcer.[4] In 2009, a strategy to promote early detection and provide wider access to antibiotics was adopted.[6] A bi-annual meeting is held in Geneva to bring researcher institutions, nongovernmental agencies, and representatives from countries with Buruli ulcer together.[7]

  1. ^ Röltgen K, Pluschke G (2019). "Buruli ulcer: history and disease". In Pluschke G, Röltgen K (eds.). Buruli Ulcer: Mycobacterium Ulcerans Disease. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-3-030-11114-4.
  2. ^ "Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection)". World Health Organization. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  3. ^ Amofah G, Bonsu F, Tetteh C (February 2002). "Buruli Ulcer in Ghana: Results of a National Case Search". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 8 (2). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 167–170. doi:10.3201/eid0802.010119. PMC 2732443. PMID 11897068. Archived from the original on 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  4. ^ a b c "Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative (GBUI)". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Buruli ulcer". Emory University. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  6. ^ "WHO Technical Advisory Group on Buruli ulcer". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Engaging partnerships and global coordination for Buruli ulcer". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.