From 1 to 4 June, the IPK as it is known in Cuba organized a series of meetings to celebrate its 70th anniversary: the 70th Anniversary Congress itself, the VII Cuban Congress of Microbiology and Parasitology and the IV National Congress of Tropical Medicine.

The well attended opening session featured an address on the Cuban public health system by Dr Luis Estruch, Vice-Minister of Health, one entitled "TDR and paradigm shifts in international health" by TDR Director Rob Ridley, an address on "Tackling neglected tropical diseases: fighting the diseases of the poorest of the poor" by Denis Daumerie from WHO, "Iniciativa regional de eliminación de enfermedades desatendidas y otras enfermedades infecciosas en Cuba" by Jarbas Barbosa (OPS) and, to close, "Control de las enfermedades infecciosas en Cuba" by Gustavo Kouri, Director of IPK and son of its founder. For more information, see the website www.ipk.sld.cu.

Congratulations to our colleagues in Havana!