Meet Felix, a young boy from rural Burundi. He’s ten years old, but he looks no older than six–the first of many clues that indicated he was infected with an NTD.
At school, Felix’s teacher noticed he was extremely lethargic and was complaining of abdominal pain. His growth was clearly stunted, and his abdomen was very distended.
Felix’s teacher had been trained to recognize these symptoms of infection with intestinal worms and schistosomiasis (snail fever), and so he immediately brought Felix to a local healthcare clinic.
There, Felix was fortunate enough to receive medical attention and treatment. He was given a dose of praziquantel to help treat his infections, and immediately showed signs of improvement.
Within weeks, Felix was again able to focus on his school work and to play with his friends, free from physical pain. Just as importantly, as the size of his abdomen grew smaller, he was able to interact with his community free from social stigmatization.
Millions of children around the world just like Felix are infected with NTDs and endure physical stunting, mental impairment, and social stigma. For mere pocket change, though–in the case of the drug praziquantel, only $0.32–we can provide safe, effective treatment to these children. In fact, deworming children is one of the most cost-effective investments in global health today.
But treatment is just one part of the equation: Felix’s health was also a success because his teacher was informed and Felix had access to a functioning healthcare system that included trained staff, suitable infrastructure, and a stocked medicine supply. Coordinated education and distribution efforts from the NTD community that have been operating for decades ensure that children like Felix who have simple, treatable health problems can receive the treatment they need.
Photo credits: Lindsay Wheeler
Great article! I just began reading Strength in What Remais, by Tracy Kidder, about a refugee from Burundi. I’ll save it for you when I finish.