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Weekly Blog Roundup August 23-27

August 27th, 2010

Happy Friday Readers! Check out what we talked about on End the Neglect this week!

  1. The Global Network got an awesome opportunity to showcase a 15 second spot on the CBS Superscreen in New York City! Check out the video and join Alyssa Milano and Text “LIFE” to 30644 to End The Neglect!
  2. Our wonderful communications/grassroots intern Linda shared her experience in  Honduras as a student volunteer working on construction projects for impovrished communities.
  3. We got a little clinical when discussing Lymphatic Filariasis in our second “Worm of the Week” installment.
  4. We got excited about the 30th anniversary of smallpox eradication!
  5. Alanna Shaikh talked sandflies and giant sores, with a great article on  leishmaniasis, a horrific neglected tropical disease threatening 350 million men, women and children in 88 countries!
  6. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also had some great articles about smallpox this week, so we were excited to reprint them here for your reading pleasure!

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Posted in Africa, Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Public Health, Weekly Roundup, policy, poverty

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Lessons Learned from Smallpox – When Eradication is the Goal, One Case is One Too Many

August 26th, 2010

Reprinted with permission from Foundation Blog, The Official Blog of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

By: Walt Orenstein

I will never forget March 16, 1975.  It had been almost four months since I began working in India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh (UP), to try to eradicate smallpox. 

On that morning, I was contacted about a new case of smallpox.  I reached the patient about 1 ½ hours after she died from an unusual complication, late hemorrhagic smallpox.  Her name was Shanti, a 7 month old child, the daughter of Pyari Lal. She was probably infected by her sibling.  Her death was totally preventable, but fortunately she turned out to be the last case of smallpox in UP.

We finally broke the human chains of transmission of that terrible virus.  That experience in India taught me how serious vaccine preventable diseases could be and how powerful vaccines are in preventing these types of tragedies.

Walter A. Orenstein, M.D doing community outreach in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India during the successful 1975 smallpox eradication campaign. Photo Credit: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The eradication of smallpox showed that effective vaccines can lead to the ultimate goal: the permanent end of a serious affliction of humankind. Smallpox eradication is our generation’s gift to all future generations. » Read more: Lessons Learned from Smallpox – When Eradication is the Goal, One Case is One Too Many

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, India, Public Health, poverty

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Smallpox is dead!

August 25th, 2010

Photo courtesy of WHO

A Google image search of “smallpox” will display photos which, to be frank, are startling and hard to look at. What’s even more shocking than the images themselves is the fact that smallpox remains the only disease to have been eradicated* from humanity.  2010 marks the 30th anniversary of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication officially reporting the elimination of smallpox disease—one of the greatest triumphs in medicine and public health.

To commemorate this truly admirable feat, hundreds of global health practitioners, scientists and advocates have gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a symposium that is aimed at sharing “lessons, legacies, and innovations” thirty years post the eradication of smallpox.

The Sabin Vaccine Institute will be live streaming the symposium here, and in addition to presentations by our President, Dr. Peter Hotez, and Executive Vice-President Dr. Ciro de Quadros, who served as the World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Epidemiologist for the Smallpox Eradication Program in Ethiopia from 1970 to 1976, the symposium will feature presentations by Dr. DA Henderson, Former Chief of the WHO Smallpox Eradication Program; Dr. Mirta Roses, Director of the Pan American Health Organization; Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University; and Dr. Tadataka Yamada, President of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among others.

» Read more: Smallpox is dead!

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Posted in Global Health, NTDs

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Latest Lancet Article Reveals: “Africa is Desperate for Praziquantel”

August 13th, 2010

 

Urine samples from school-aged children from Nérékoro in Ségou region of Mali. Three samples on right show visible haematuria, which indicates infection with S haematobium. Three samples on left are not haematuric at visual inspection but could still contain abnormal number of red blood cells. Urine cloudiness (third sample from left) is early sign of abnormality. Photo Credit: The Lancet

In an editorial in the August 13 edition of The Lancet, authors representing the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Imperial College of London call for increased supplies of praziquantel for the African continent.  Praziquantel is the only commercially available treatment for human schistosomiasis, a devastating neglected tropical disease (NTD) affects an estimated 200-600 million people worldwide, with the vast majority of cases occurring in Africa, and causes chronic anemia and inflammation associated with severe disability among children, adolescents and young adults. Schistosomiasis produces a disease burden that could exceed that of malaria.

NTDs are devastating, disabling and debilitating parasitic and bacterial infections that adversely affect the poorest 1.4 billion people worldwide living on $1.25 a day. Such conditions promote poverty because of their impact on child growth and development, pregnancy outcome, and worker productivity, all of which adversely impact the earning capacity of already impoverished individuals and communities.

Authors Dr. Peter Hotez (Sabin Vaccine Institute), Dr. Lorenzo Savioli (WHO), Dr. Dirk Engels (WHO) and Dr. Alan Fenwick (Imperial), emphasize that because an estimated one billion tablets are needed to treat 400 million people annually or every other year, at least 10-20 times the currently donated praziquantel is necessary to increase treatment for schistosomiasis in Africa.

The authors conclude by stating that, “… praziquantel is urgently needed for sub-Saharan Africa now, and the current failure of the global community to provide access to this essential medicine is impeding sustainable development in Africa. The shortages of praziquantel should be treated as an African humanitarian crisis.”

 Read the full article here 

 

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Posted in Africa, Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Politics, Public Health, Uncategorized, policy, poverty

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Council on Foreign Relations Introduces the Global Governance Monitor

August 12th, 2010

The Council on Foreign Relations recently released a new feature called the Global Governence Monitor on their website that tracks and evaluates multilateral efforts for the world’s most pressing challenges.

There is a specific public health section and if you look closely within the Matrix you will see that the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases is listed!

Here is a little more information about the Global Governance Monitor:

“The Global Governance Monitor is a tool that shows how the international community is doing in addressing the most daunting threats that it faces. For each issue area, the monitor provides:

  • a cinematic overview of the challenge, which explains why international cooperation is needed;
  • an interactive timeline that traces the world’s efforts to craft collective responses to the challenge;
  • an issue brief that evaluates the overall performance of the regime and suggests potential reforms to improve international cooperation;
  • a matrix that catalogs relevant international treaties, organizations, and initiatives;
  • an interactive map that details critical countries and groups; and
  • a resource guide for further information on the topic.”

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Politics, Public Health, U.S Government, policy, poverty

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The Final Hurdle to Universal Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction

August 3rd, 2010

By: Dr. Ciro de Quadros, Executive Vice President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute

The burden of rotavirus is well known, particularly amongst the global health community. It’s a leading cause of death amongst children under five. The virus claims the lives of more than 500,000 children each year and causes the hospitalization of millions more.

Almost half of the 500,000 lives lost are African children, and six of the seven countries with the highest infant mortality rates from rotavirus are in Africa. Yet only one African nation, South Africa, has introduced rotavirus vaccine into its national immunization program. Just 2 percent of the continent has access to rotavirus vaccines; how can this be?

» Read more: The Final Hurdle to Universal Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, Public Health, poverty

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Scientists in the Role of Advocates: Fashion leads the way

August 2nd, 2010

by: Dr. John Wecker, PATH

A makeshift fashion runway. Pulsating music. The flash of strobe lights. The softness from a fog machine.  And a dozen leading pediatricians, scientists, and government officials modeling the latest in Filipino designer fashion wear. 

That was the scene from an evening gala event at the recent 2nd Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC) in Manila, Philippines. It was event intended to inject some levity after a long day of lectures and presentations, and to introduce the audience to an important aspect of Filipino culture (I have come to learn that Filipino women have a strong sense of cultural identity expressed through designer fashion). 

Beyond the haute couture, the willingness of these highly accomplished women (and one man) to model designer clothing in front of their colleagues and mentors is an expression of their confidence to move to a place others might find uncomfortable. This willingness to step out of safe boundaries, to go beyond where one’s professional training dictates, will be critical if we are to achieve the challenge set forth this year at ASVAC: Every Vaccine for Everyone:  Ensuring Equity. This is a challenge that can only be overcome if scientists join their voices in vaccine advocacy.

» Read more: Scientists in the Role of Advocates: Fashion leads the way

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Posted in Global Health, Public Health, poverty

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New Bill Could Impact Surveillance and Treatment of Neglected Infections of Poverty in the United States

July 30th, 2010

United States Representative Hank Johnson, Jr. introduced a bill before Congress today that will target the elimination of neglected infections of poverty (NIOPs) in the US. The “Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2010” or H.R. 5986, would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress annually on the impact of NIOPs, their threat and to make funding recommendations on how to eradicate them.

NIOPs are debilitating parasitic, bacterial, and congenital infections which disproportionately affect poor and minority populations in the US. The major NIOPs include toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, congenital cytomegalovirus, cysticercosis, and Chagas disease (3 T’s and 3 C’s). The diseases have an especially great impact on the health and well being of women and children, impairing learning and productivity.

In a paper published in 2008 in the Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Diseases, Sabin President Dr. Peter Hotez reported on the surprisingly high rates of parasitic infections among poor and minority populations in the US.

“These are diseases that we know are at least as important as H1N1,” Dr. Hotez said in a statement. “Yet, they are on no one’s radar. These are not exotic diseases found only in developing countries. They are right here in our communities, and this legislation is desperately needed to help get a grasp on their impact.”

Read the full press release here.

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Public Health, U.S Government

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Millions and Billions

July 26th, 2010

Photo Credit: Lindsay Wheeler

By: Tara Hayward, Resource Development Officer, Sabin Vaccine Institute

The economy has started to thaw and donors of the world are beginning to relax. Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffett, have a launched an epic challenge for the world’s billionaires – Give away half of what you have.  While The Giving Pledge is specifically focused on billionaires, it feeds on inspiration from philanthropic efforts that encourage everyone – of all financial means and backgrounds. We all can help make the world a better place, right?

In the context of all the millions and billions of dollars floating around, as donors, we naturally start to wonder if we can do anything, if we can make any impact with a $20 donation to our favorite cause. The answer? Yes!

» Read more: Millions and Billions

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Posted in Africa, Global Development, Global Health, Just 50 Cents, NTDs, Public Health, poverty

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Announcing Dr. Neeraj Mistry as New Managing Director for the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases!

July 19th, 2010

We have some very exciting news to share with our readers! We are pleased to announce that Dr. Neeraj Mistry has accepted the opportunity of serving as the Managing Director of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. Dr. Mistry will focus his talents on advocacy and resource mobilization efforts, creatively bringing likeminded groups and individuals together for the common purpose of controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

A South African national and public health physician, Dr. Mistry is experienced in global health policy and programming having worked in both developing and developed countries, the public and private sectors in clinical practice, health policy and social development. In the past year, he provided consulting services to international organizations including WHO, DFID and The Global Fund, prior to which he was a senior vice president in APCO Worldwide’s Washington DC office.

From 2001 to 2008, Dr. Mistry worked at the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (GBC) as a founding employee and vice president of knowledge, evaluation and performance where he led technical assistance to companies. In addition to technical assistance, Dr. Mistry provided substantive and strategic input to GBC’s regional offices and departments. He developed the Business AIDS Methodology (BAM™) and Best Practice AIDS Standard (BPAS™) and conceptualized and led GBC’s work on co-investment and public/private partnerships with PEPFAR and The Global Fund, where he also supports the technical review panel. Following the completion of his medical training at the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Mistry focused on HIV/AIDS, occupational health, family practice and sexual and reproductive health. Dr. Mistry also worked at the National Health Service (NHS) in London and in Merck & Co. Inc.’s public affairs for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He also holds a Master’s degree in health policy and economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is currently reading for a Masters in Liberal Arts at Johns Hopkins.

We are looking forward to working with Dr. Mistry, and excited to see how his broad experience and background will strengthen the Global Network. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Mistry as he brings his energy and skills to the task of carrying out the Global Network’s important mission.

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Public Health, Uncategorized

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