Amaury Coutinho Brazil

The Amaury Coutinho Non-Governmental Organization, Pernambuco, Brazil, was created in 1996 in memory of the work and beliefs of the distinguished Brazilian researcher from Pernambuco, who studied schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) until his death in 1995. The Organization aims to:

• serve as a link between the scientific world and the populations who can benefit from scientific knowledge; and
• make funds available for research leading to the prevention and elimination of individual suffering caused by LF.

The work of the Organization is made possible through the contributions of donors, mainly from countries outside Brazil.
Its specific tasks include:

• to have provided financial support to the NEPAF – Center for Training, Research and Medical Care in Bancroftian Filariasis at Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife, devoted to (i) assisting patients who have filarial disease; (ii) clinical research and (iii) developing the infrastructure necessary for the International Training Center in Lymphatic Filariasis;
• the production of teaching materials via the website, in collaboration with various partners including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health and Development International (HDI) and Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA), to spread knowledge of how to alleviate suffering caused by bancroftian filariasis among communities, health personnel and Program Managers;
• financial support for clinical research that will lead to further breakthroughs in the basic understanding of the disease and in the prevention and rehabilitation of disabilities caused by bancroftian filariasis.

More information on the Amaury Coutinho Foundation for Endemic Tropical Diseases can be found at www.amaurycoutinho.org.br.   The main objective of the website is to share the findings of medical professionals working in Recife, Brazil, an endemic area for bancroftian filariasis. The Foundation believes and hopes that by making this available, information on important yet simple steps that can be taken to reduce the severity of filarial disease will be further circulated among the health community, as well as among the general population.Although the website continues to be developed, information is already available and the Foundation welcomes comments and invites other partners to establish a weblink to the site.  For additional information or comments, contact the Foundation via email at amaurycoutinho@uol.com.br or by phone at +55 81 32418807.