1) International Medical Cooperation. General View

In a symposium entitled “Parasitology and International Cooperation” chaired by Professors Kobari and Tanaka held during the 58th JSP meeting in 1989, it was stressed that the JSP should contribute along the concepts and ideals of international health cooperation. In this context, JSP established its internal International Cooperation Committee in 1990. The first task of this committee was to form a league with similar committees belonging to the other 12 medical-related societies in Japan so as to enable the smooth execution of the various projects in international health cooperation. After a series of meetings, the results of the discussion were incorporated into the Kyoto proclamation (1992). Unfortunately, the responses to this proposal were not very encouraging nor enthusiastic, especially from those in the academic fields and public administrative agency. Secondly, the committee sent out questionnaire to about 800 JSP members asking their interest in international health cooperation. It was found that of the 208 (26%) members who replied, 130 (62.3%) had in the past, participated in medical cooperation projects funded by Japan. They participated in various such projects not only in Asian countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, but also in Africa (Kenya) and Latin America (Guatemala, Brazil, Paraguay). These projects were carried out by JICA/OTCA (Japan International Cooperation Agency/ Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency) under the auspices of ODA (Official Development Assistance) (Fig. 1). Comments by JSP members on international health cooperation activities that had been conducted to date by Japan are summarized in Table 1. It was deemed important for the members of an academic society such as JSP as well as the relevant scientific institutions to be engaged in the overseas activities. Furthermore, there was a comment on the need to bridge the gap between the scientific knowledge and the technological cooperation as well as the integration of the project planning. Thirdly, the committee elected Dr. M. Suzuki as representative of JSP to the World Federation of Parasitologists (WFP) and initiated the process of getting the WFP meeting to be held in Japan. In fact, this objective became a reality when the 9th ICOPA (International Congress of Parasitologists) was held in Japan in 1998. With active cooperation from the WHO (World Health Organization), the JSP international cooperation committee drew up a list of scientific personnel who showed interest in international health. As a result, Dr. K. Aoki was appointed as a committee member of the Tropical Disease Research program of the WHO.