The Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT NOVA) and the Association for the Development of Tropical Medicine (ADMT) are delighted to invite you to participate in the 5th National Congress of Tropical Medicine (5CNTM), which takes place in Lisbon, between April 10th and 12th, 2019.  

Like the previous ones, this is a Congress about locally relevant subjects with global and tropical dimensions 
The 5CNMT is a biennial event that brings scientists and experts from the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), Europe and all over the world, being the most important congress on global health and tropical medicine held in Portugal.

The 2019 edition has as its main goal establishing a platform to discuss health policy and health systems issues from the perspective of achieving Universal Health Coverage in the Member States of the CPLP. The themes under debate include: health sector regulation; strategic health planning; the complexity associated with planning, training, placement and retention of the health workforce; the health needs of migrants; as well as the growing role of ICT in health service systems.

The themes will be addressed: by invitation, in keynote communications and plenary thematic sessions, as well as in parallel panel discussions; and by submission (by participants' personal initiative) in scientific sessions with oral or poster presentations. The aim of these last sessions is to extend the interventions to the most traditional themes in tropical health - malaria, bilharzia, leishmaniosis, trypanosomes, Zika, dengue, tuberculosis and leprosy, among others.

The state of the art will be reviewed in terms of current knowledge, covering aspects ranging from basic research to questions related with the implementation of new therapeutics and technologies, development of partnerships, as well as several other aspects that influence the efficiency of health services systems.

Lusophone cultural exchange 
Given that science is one important manifestation of human culture, the 5CNMT will challenge the participants to discuss the impact of scientific progress in Lusophone societies as well as the impact, in health and health services systems, of disruptive changes, like migrations and refugees´ and economic crises .

Adopting Portuguese as the working language, we reiterate this language as a vehicle for the transfer of scientific and cultural knowledge.

We will also have a Photography Competition in order to reveal the activities developed by the Institute and partner institutions in relevant aspects of their shared work. The photos in competition must be submitted until January 31st, 2019 and the photos selected will be part of a public exhibition between April 1st and June 30th, 2019 at Nova-IHMT. 

Given that the media is an important vehicle for bringing scientists closer to society, we invite interested journalists to apply for the 3rd edition of the Journalism Prize in Global Health and Tropical Medicine, which aims to contribute to public awareness of tropical diseases and global health issues, in particular those addressed by the 5CNMT.

Embark on a trip in Lisbon and around world
The 5CNMT 2019 will happen in Alcântara, next to Belém, an important landmark in Lisbon, Portugal, of the beginning of the first globalization, propelled by the Portuguese discoverers.

In Alcântara, your attention is drawn to Santo Amaro Chapel, Flamengas Convent and Calvário Convent.

Between Alcântara and Belém, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape walking along the margins of the Tagus River.

In Belém, we recommend a visit to the majestic Jerónimos Monastery, to the Belém Tower and to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos as well as to several museums, like the Navy, Coaches, Presidency, MAAT and Electricity Museums.

From Belém, you may also decide to explore the hills, the streets, the squares and the gardens of Lisbon and the rich historical and cultural heritage of the city, where the influences of many eras of commercial and cultural exchange with the rest of the world are reflected in multiple architectural styles.

At last, do not forget to take a break to taste the traditional gastronomy made with ancient techniques, spices and herbs from all over the world, that will make you travel around other ways of pleasure and global plenitude.

In conclusion, you have many good reasons to take part in the 5CNMT and visit us in April 2019!

We will be waiting for you!

	Paulo Ferrinho President of the Scientific Committee of 5CNMT