End the Neglect

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Archive for the ‘policy’ category

Neglected Tropical Diseases and the Festival of Ideas

May 9th, 2012

Yesterday, the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, in partnership with the Embassy of South Africa, hosted a panel called “Integrated Approaches to Health and Development through NTD Control.”

The panel discussion was a part of larger event hosted by the Embassy of South Africa, called “Thought Leadership for the African Health Agenda.” The Embassy is hosting similar events to spur ideas throughout 2012, as a part of their “2012 Festival of Ideas.”

The Global Network’s Managing Director, Dr. Neeraj Mistry, moderated the panel and hopes the discussion will improve awareness of and support for solutions to NTDs, diseases that have often been “hidden in the shadows.”

The panelists, Dr. Peter Hotez, President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute; Dr. Jennifer Kates, Vice President and Director of HIV Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation; and Dr. Ok Pannenborg, Former Chief Health Advisor, World Bank Group, shared their perspectives on NTDs, including the health impacts and existing treatments, the U.S. government’s approach, and the role of health systems. » Read more: Neglected Tropical Diseases and the Festival of Ideas

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Posted in Africa, hookworm, integration, policy, schistosomiasis

Honoring the life of Rep. Donald Payne

March 6th, 2012

It is with great sadness that the Global Network shares the news of the passing of Representative Donald Payne (D-NJ). Rep. Payne died in New Jersey after a brief battle with colon cancer. The first African American to be elected to represent New Jersey’s 10^th District, Rep. Payne was a tireless advocate of humanitarian assistance and spoke out on behalf of people suffering from disease, persecution, and poverty around the world.

As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee as well as the highest ranked Democrat on the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, Rep. Payne worked on legislation to promote democracy, protect human rights, and facilitate famine relief, to name just a few of his accomplishments. He also helped secure $50 billion in funding for HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria under PEPFAR.

In 2008, Rep. Payne, in collaboration with now Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and former First Lady Laura Bush launched the Congressional Malaria Caucus to raise awareness of the United States’ efforts to control and treat malaria. Rep. Payne took his commitments to global health one step further in 2009 by expanding the Caucus to include neglected tropical disease (NTD) control and prevention within its mission.

With the announcement of his position as Co-Chair of the Caucus for the 112^th Congress, Rep. Payne asserted that, “In a time of crucial discussions about U.S. foreign assistance reform, malaria and NTD control and prevention represent some of the strongest returns on investment for foreign assistance dollars.” His comments resonate with the Global Network’s mission and reflect his dedication to improving the lives of the world’s bottom billion. In 2010, Rep. Payne sponsored a Congressional briefing, “Can NTDs be Eliminated?” hosted by the Global Network, signifying his strong support in the fight against NTDs and for which we are truly grateful. In a statement by Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Jeff Fortenbery (R-NE) today, he echoed those sentiments as he mourns the loss of a good friend.

It was a pleasure to work with Rep. Payne and his staff in the fight against NTDs, and the Global Network will remember him as a true champion of neglected diseases and neglected people around the world.

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Posted in Global Development, policy

Examining the link between food security and deworming

February 8th, 2012

Panel Members at Parliament Event on Food Security

Panel Members at Food Security Event in Parliament. Photo provided by Partnership for Child Development.

Today, the former president of Ghana and winner of the World Food Prize 2011, H.E John Kufuor, spoke to the U.K. Parliament about how school feeding programs can help millions of people currently living in poverty.

The event – “Linking local agriculture, nutrition and education: Innovations to improve food security” –was sponsored by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development and the Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College London (PCD).

In coordination with PCD and Deworm the World, the Global Network shared information at the event about combining deworming efforts with school feeding programs in order to strengthen agriculture, health and education programs.

Parasitic worm infections often undermine existing school feeding programs by causing malnutrition and anemia even in children who are well-fed. Additionally, school-based deworming programs have been linked to improved school attendance and performance, as well as increased earning potential over the long-term.

At the Global Network we’ve often touted the successes of integrating the work of Ministries of Health and Education. Combining this work with Ministry of Agriculture efforts to create predictable demand for agriculture products will provide a more comprehensive approach to food security that could change the reality of poverty and hunger across the developing world. Now that’s innovation!

For more information on the event, click here.

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Posted in de-worming, food security, NTDs, policy, UK government

USAID Confirms FY 2011 Funding Level for NTDs

August 16th, 2011

USAID has recently confirmed that the fiscal year (FY) 2011 funding level for USAID’s NTD Program will be $77 million. This figure, although below the President’s original FY11 request of $155 million, is a $12 million increase from the program’s FY10 allocation of $65 million. The United States has now collectively appropriated $212 million over a six-year period toward NTD control and elimination programs, building on the generous drug donations from the pharmaceutical industry. It is unknown what FY12 will bring under the new debt ceiling agreement and whether or not this funding level can be maintained; however, given the current economic climate, it is a huge win in the fight against NTDs!

Addressing NTDs, which began in FY06, is an objective within the Global Health Initiative (GHI), a six-year initiative unveiled by President Obama in May 2009. One of GHI’s eight priority goals is to control and eliminate a number of NTDs by 2015. Specifically, GHI hopes to use cross-sectoral collaborations (partnerships among country governments, donors, and non-governmental organizations) to “reduce the prevalence of seven NTDs by 50 percent among 70 percent of the affected population, contributing to: the elimination of onchocerciasis (river blindness) in Latin America by 2016; the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) globally by 2020; and the elimination of leprosy.”To learn more about GHI’s funding, check out this comprehensive factsheet. To learn more about how to end the neglect, click here.