End the Neglect

A blog of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Archive for the ‘poverty’ category

A Minute with NTD expert: Ellen Agler, Chief Executive Officer of the END Fund

March 4th, 2013

At the recent “Uniting to Combat NTDs: Translating the London Declaration into Action,” we had a chance to catch up with Ellen Agler, Chief Executive Officer of the END Fund. The END Fund is a private philanthropic fund mobilizing resources for neglected tropical diseases in Africa.

Global Network: What does it take for exposed individuals to fight NTDs?

Ellen Agler: When I was in Mali, I also got a chance to see in addition to the mass drug administration other aspects of the program. There is a huge backlog of trichiasis surgery. Blinding trachoma, if it starts advancing, it is incredibly painful… It feels like sand going over your cornea, and you will go blind if you don’t get this surgery in the advanced stages.

And to see how simple of a surgery it was- that it really only took 10 or 15 minutes. [END Fund] do have this incredible message of about 50 cents per person per year can protect you against these seven diseases that cause disability, cause suffering, cause blindness, and really change the trajectory of your life. And that is a simple message, and I think that we’re all rallying to ensure that we can prevent these diseases, we can treat them in the early stage so that no one has to suffer those diseases.

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Posted in END Fund, Global Development, Global Health, Just 50 Cents, NTD Controll, NTD Enlightment, NTDs, poverty, River blindness, Trachoma

The Neglected Egyptian Protest

February 19th, 2013

About two years ago around this time, crowds of protest movements were enveloping the Middle East and North Africa. Protestors were coming together to work towards better representation of people that had the capacity to serve the larger population, rather than the upper elite. In Egypt, particularly about two years ago around this time, the former President of Egypt of 30 years, Hosni Mubarak, was forced to step down.

The Middle East region includes about 20 countries, with almost 400 million people living within its span. Of this population, about 65 million people live on less than $2 US dollars a day. Egypt has the largest number of people living in poverty in the Middle East, with 18 percent out of 80.4 million living on less than US$2 per day. Loose labor laws, a lack of strong physical infrastructure and a weakened sense of social justice amounted to an overwhelming amount of unsatisfied civilians that took to Tahrir Square in 2011 and have since been fighting for their just representation by government officials.

Economic burdens and restraints, like those that have affected a large portion of Egypt’s population, not only lead to inequality of employment, resources and infrastructure, but they can also eventually lead to the regression of physical health. When you have such a large population living in under-privileged circumstances, people walk a very thin line of safety when it comes to health services. It may not have stood out as a single issue that raised headlines during the protests, but the lack of policy that suppressed the spread of diseases is also a result of government neglect.

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Posted in Africa, END7, Global Development, Global Health, healthcare, hookworm, National Security, NTD Controll, NTD Enlightment, NTDs, poverty, Public Health, Sabin Vaccine Institute, WHO

World Water Week: Addressing Water and Food Security’s Effect on NTDs and Development

August 31st, 2012

Stockholm, Sweden, August 26-31, 2012 : The leading minds in environment, health, climate change, economics, and poverty reduction gathered in Stockholm for the annual World Water Week, hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Operating since 1991, the event highlights the importance of partnerships between the different fields of expertise when determining the best and most feasible solutions to global water issues.

This year, the World Water Week focused on the importance and challenges of “Water and Food Security,”, and emphasized the importance of improving sanitation and reducing wasteful practices around the globe. More than enough food is produced to feed the world’s population, yet one billion people don’t get the nourishment they need. Despite the one billion people going hungry, around one third of food produced is thrown away or otherwise wasted. It is important to note even though these numbers are both astounding and frustrating, food alone will not solve this problem. Half of malnutrition cases are related to unclean water, insufficient sanitation, or poor hygiene.

For the Global Network, this message is extremely important. Poor sanitation and hygiene are leading factors in the spread of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). There are nearly 500million people without access to clean water, and a greater two billion without access to a proper toilet. An insufficient or dirty water supply, poor hygiene practices, as well as limited or no access to sanitation facilities lead to the spread of NTDs. Improving these issues could substantially decrease NTDs, improving health and standard of living in many developing areas. Disease and undernourishment severely limit the productivity of the work force, putting strain on the entire community. For example, in Nigeria’s rice farming communities, contracting Schistosmiasis in the swampy farmlands can result in a loss of more than a month’s worth of labor days per person (for information about NTDs in Nigeria’s swamp rice farms, read more here ). Clean water, sanitation, and good hygiene go beyond improving health to facilitate the productivity and over all living standard of a community. The benefits of clean and available water span across all fields of development. For World Water Week participants, this is the bottom line.

To learn more about the World Water Week’s purpose and agenda, check out their website at www.worldwaterweek.org

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Posted in Africa, END7, farming, food security, Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, poverty, Water and Sanitation, World Water Week 2011

An Easy Choice

March 7th, 2012

Guest Blogger Aika Jakisheva

We all need a change, we all need to believe that we can make a change, but I think you will agree with me on this one – it is almost impossible. I like many other people lost hope in the idea that change is possible. However something inside kept on telling me that I am wrong and my gut feeling was 100% right. In November 2011, very unexpectedly I joined a group of people who were going on a trip to Rwanda in order to explore various opportunities to contribute to the development of the country. I had the opportunity to meet with the government representatives, local businessman, international investors, directors of charity funds as well as the local people themselves. I was in disbelief that this is the country that has been to hell and back. In 1994 Rwanda was subject to one of the most horrifying genocides of the twentieth century between the two tribes: the Tutsi and the Hutu. I expected to see a troubled society that lost all hope in humanity; I cannot believe how wrong I was. Rwanda today is a prospering and rapidly developing country with amazingly driven and inspirational people. And everyday I was asking myself one question: how?

Certainly a correct and strong leadership is a crucial factor of Rwanda’s success, but there is another significant factor that helps to drive this country forward – hope and this hope was brought to them by charities.

I have visited many projects of non-profit organisations and every visit was a memorable experience. What struck me the most was to see how little is needed in order to change the course of life for the better for so many people. By bringing them food, water, education, medical supplies, what charities do is bring to those people hope and confidence in their bright future. In Rwanda I experienced what we tend to think is naïve and childish. I have experienced that amazing belief that you can make a change in this world – and you really can! » Read more: An Easy Choice