Posts Tagged ‘news’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Alyssa Milano, Tonic.com, and the Global Network Unite Against Lymphatic Filariasis!

April 19th, 2011

Photo courtesy of IMA World Health.

LF, also known as elephantiasis, affects 120 million people worldwide and this week (April 19-26), we are proud to partner with actress and Global Network Ambassador Alyssa Milano and Tonic.com – an online platform to educate and engage consumers around positive actions – on a social-media driven campaign to raise $75,000 to keep a lymphatic filariasis (LF) program alive in the Indian state of Orissa.

IMA World Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have partnered with the

google images

Indian n.g.o CASA on a lymphatic filariasis program in Orissa to care for 23,000 LF patients and work to identify new cases of the disease. The program serves to provide emotional support, home care, and health education to LF patients and their families. These health and education programs allow LF patients to get back on their feet and be empowered to return to work and be productive citizens, contributing to their families and communities.


This program needs $75,000 to continue. The Global Network, Alyssa Milano, and Tonic.com are determined to End the Neglect and raise those funds – now. Together we make a BIG difference.

Will you join our cause? This is how you can help us meet our goal of $75,000:

Contact us at globalnetwork@sabin.org with any questions or comments.

Join us to End the Neglect!

Click HERE to donate now.


.

No comments »

Posted in Alyssa Milano, lymphatic filariasis, Tonic Campaign

Tags:

Earthquakes, Governance, and Health

March 18th, 2011

By: Alanna Shaikh

Right now, estimates for the final death toll of Japan’s earthquake and the aftershocks and tsunamis that followed run between 10,000 and 20,000. That’s a hideous number; a tragedy and a catastrophe that will affect Japan for generations. But the estimates of Haitian deaths are at 230,000 – 250,000, and the earthquake in Japan was 100 times stronger than the earthquake in Haiti.

Both earthquakes hit populous island nations, and were followed by aftershocks, although Japan’s aftershocks have been much worse and there was also a tsunami. What made the difference? Why did Japan fare so much better? Building codes.

Well, not just building codes – although that is a big part of it – but also earthquake preparedness, prompt emergency response, and good infrastructure. In other words, government. Good government that was ready for an emergency and acted well when that emergency occurred.

We don’t normally think about building codes and health, but these two earthquakes demonstrate that the linkages are pretty powerful.

Government regulation isn’t just important for disaster response. It matters for all kinds of health, including infectious diseases like Neglected tropical Diseases (NTDs).

» Read more: Earthquakes, Governance, and Health

No comments »

Posted in Asia, Global Health, Haiti, Japan, natural disaster, NTDs, Water and Sanitation

Tags:

Nepalese Gov’t to Administer Elephantiasis Medicine

March 16th, 2011

The Rising Nepal released a piece highlighting The Nepalese Government’s plan to launch a major vaccination campaign for the first round of elephantiasis vaccines in 40 districts that are at high risk of elephantiasis.  The campaign will be out by community health workers who will spearhead door-to-door distribution of the medicine over the next 6 years. District Public Health Officer Dhirjung Shah stated that over 3,000 people have been diagnosed with elephantiasis and he plans to lead discussion programs around the country to build awareness surrounding the epidemiology of elephantiasis

It has been estimated that Banke district is at the high risk of elephantiasis as 106 (53 percent) out of 200 sample tests conducted a year ago in Rajhena and Bankatawa VDCs were found infected by the disease.

Elephantiasis is found in over 82 countries and approximately 1.04 million people have been diagnosed with the disease.  Tests show that the infection is usually contracted in childhood and develops into a disease later in life.  The filarial infection is mosquito-borne and several different clinical manifestations such as genital enlargement, high fevers, and lymphoedema of limbs, typically from the waist down.

Elephatiasis, or lymphatic filariasis, is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and according to World Health Organization (WHO) “during the period of 2000 – 2009 about 2.7 billion treatments were delivered to more than 695 million of individuals.” Intervention and education are key to preventing infections and derailing severe future illnesses.

Congratulations to Nepal for their campaign against elephantiasis!

Read the original post here.

No comments »

Posted in Asia, Global Health, MDA, NTDs

Tags:

The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Partners with Eisai Co., Ltd.

March 15th, 2011

The Global Network to provide advocacy and resource mobilization support to complement Eisai Co., Ltd.’s historic DEC donation to the World Health Organization (WHO)

March 15, 2011- The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Eisai Co., Ltd to provide advocacy support for Eisai’s diethylcarbamazine (generic name, “DEC”) donation to the World Health Organization (WHO). This donation is a significant contribution to the global neglected tropical disease (NTD) response and will expand the pharmaceutical industry’s role in global health initiatives to combat NTDs.  Through collaboration around advocacy activities related to the DEC donation, the Global Network will assist Eisai in forging and maintaining strong ties with international agencies, foundations, corporate and government agencies working to combat NTDs.  The Global Network will work with Eisai on its planning, reporting, and implementation activities around the DEC donation and will provide Eisai with technical advice for future decision-making on NTD initiatives.  Eisai will work with the Global Network to deepen its engagement in NTD policy, advocacy, and resource mobilization efforts, particularly in Asia.

» Read more: The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Partners with Eisai Co., Ltd.

No comments »

Posted in Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, poverty, Press Release, Tropical Medicine

Tags: