Ms. Sarah Nancollas

Ms. Sarah Nancollas (LEPRA) is Chief executive of LEPRA Health in Action. Originally from a corporate background Sarah has more than 13 years’ experience at chief executive level in international NGOs and over 10 years’ experience of working with and in Ministries of Health in developing countries.
LEPRA is an international health NGO transforming the lives of people affected by leprosy and other diseases exacerbated by poverty and discrimination. LEPRA is an organisation that works in and beyond the treatment and cure of disease. Our strength comes from close collaboration with not only local people and grass-roots level organisations but also local and state governments. We train front-line health staff and educate ordinary people to diagnose, prevent and treat, and mobilise people to seek treatment for and manage the effects of disease.

LEPRA takes an integrated approach across diseases: for example disability prevention across leprosy and lymphatic filariasis; laboratory and services for leprosy and TB; research and referral for TB and HIV. Through co-ordination and integration we effectively bridge the gaps in health care preventing disease, disability and poverty for the poorest people.

In addition to being on the leprosy discussion panel Sarah will be speaking on lymphatic filariasis (LF). Her presentation will cover not only the disease burden in general but also LEPRA’s experience with mass drug administration, what works and what doesn’t. She will be looking ‘beyond drugs’ drawing together parallels and synergy across diseases using LEPRA’s approach with leprosy and LF as an example. Sarah will highlight the use of a ‘referral centre’ approach and discuss the potential for extending this as a possible way forward with a combination of NTDs.