The Tropical Medicine Institute “Alexander Von Humbolt” (IMT AvH), an institute of Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, celebrated its 50th anniversary March 23-24, 2018. The institute provides research and training for health professionals on the most prevalent tropical diseases in Peru, including TB, malaria, leishmaniasis, leptospirosis, HIV, HTLV-1, and enteric pathogens such as cholera, shigellosis and enteric protozoans.
To celebrate its milestone, IMT AvH organized a number of activities, including a day-long scientific symposium attended by 200 people and highlighting the achievements of IMT AvH researchers. A symposium on March 23 included presentations on tuberculosis, malaria, antimicrobial resistance and molecular epidemiology. The keynote address was given by Tine Verdonck from the Tropical Medicine Institute in Antwerp and focused on international cooperation in research – highlighting the importance of critical reflection, communication and keeping an open mind when working in partnership across different cultures and long distances.
A formal anniversary ceremony was held Friday evening, March 23, at which Luis Varela Pinedo, Rector of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, and Melitón Arce Rodriguez, Chief of Staff of the Ministerial Office of the Minister of Health, congratulated and highlighted the contributions IMT AvH has made in training health professionals and to the public health of Peruvians.
Activities continued the next day, with a course on “Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine for the XXI Century” aimed at professionals and students. Attended by more than 160 people, the course brought together national and international experts to provide attendees with state-of-the-art knowledge and understanding of the most relevant infectious diseases worldwide and in countries with limited resources. Experts included César Cabezas, Head of the Peruvian National Institute of Health; César Cuba Cuba from the University of Brasília; Glenn Barber and Juan Carlos Ramos from the University of Miami; Germán Henostroza from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Graham Taylor from Imperial College London. ASTMH President Regina Rabinovich presented a keynote address focused on malaria elimination.
The celebration concluded with a gala on Saturday night, March 24, attended by 250 staff and students of the IMT AvH, collaborators (national and international, and partners at the national and local levels), health authorities and government representatives, as well as ex-students, professors and friends.