Monthly Archives: September 2009

Fight Worms: Boost Per Capita Income

Africa, NTDs, Public Health, , income

By Josh Ruxin
Founder and Director, The Access Project
Assistant Professor in Public Heath, Columbia University

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), though massively widespread, can be defeated with a much more modest investment than it takes to fight pandemics like AIDS and tuberculosis. Ironically, because they are less well-known and potentially easier to fight than well-publicized scourges, they have always been shunted off to the side of the global public health agenda.

Recognizing the tremendous toll NTDs take on a country’s ability to pull itself out of poverty, and understanding the relative ease with which these scourges can be treated, a group of private, public and international organizations banded together to launch an integrated assault on NTDs. Rwanda has been one of the beneficiaries of the efforts of this Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, and in March 2009, nearly 4 million children were treated for the two most prevalent and debilitating parasitic infections, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthes (intestinal worms), in the course of just four days.

The intervention was sorely needed: a survey carried out by my NGO, the Access Project, showed that intestinal worm infections had an average prevalence of 66% among children, and in some areas, 95%. Schistosomiasis had an overall prevalence rate of 2.7%, but prevalence among children living in close proximity to lakes exceeded 70%. These infections can devastate entire communities if left untreated, which up until recently had almost always been the case. This devastation is not dramatic and visible –- as in the examples of AIDS, TB or malaria — but it is more subtle and, arguably, even more damaging.

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Making a Splash at the Clinton Global Initiative

Global Health, NTDs, CGI, IDB, Erin Finucane

The GN Team took on New York this week to make an exciting announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative. The Global Network, with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Pan America Health Organization, is partnering with global health leaders, philanthropic organizations, and international celebrities to mobilize $30 million to raise awareness and funding for NTD control and elimination in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Several organizations have joined this partnership including the Brazilian National Soccer Team, the Miss Universe Organization, Deworm the World, GlaxoSmithKline, and Lew Lara/ TBWA. Maureen Orth has joined as the Global Network Regional Ambassador.

Dr. Andy Baldwin and Miss USA Crystle Stewart

Dr. Andy Baldwin and Miss USA Kristen Dalton

Click here to read the press release.

Following CGI’s scheduled events Wednesday, the Global Network and the IDB co-hosted a cocktail reception at the Warwick Hotel.  Beauty queens, politicos, and major international players were among over 100 attendees that turned out to celebrate this unprecedented commitment. Notable guests included IDB President Luis Moreno, Maureen Orth, James Carville, Dr. Andy Baldwin, Governor Tommy Thompson, Terry McAuliffe, Miss Brazil 2009 Larissa Costa, and Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, and two former Miss Universes ( to see photos of the event).

The crowd was incredibly enthusiastic, though some of the guests had only recently learned about the devastating impact of NTDs. Political consultant and strategist James Carville was overheard stating “This [issue] could really take off.” Paula Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization, emphasized how excited the Miss Universe Titleholders are to “get their boots on the ground– even if the boots have six inch heels.”

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Behind the Scenes with the Beauty Queens

Global Health, NTDs, CGI, , Miss USA, Erin Hohlfelder

As a Policy Associate for the Global Network, my days are usually filled with politicians, suits, memos and briefings–hardly the stuff of glitz and glamour.  So when I was tasked Wednesday with training a handful of Miss Universe Contestants on neglected tropical diseases, I took the train up to New York City with great curiosity and admitted skepticism.  Coming from the world of DC realpolitik, I had my doubts that the Misses could become articulate Global Network spokeswomen ahead of our cocktail reception less than 12 hours later.

Thankfully, the women shattered my cynicism and quickly engaged enthusiastically in learning about these diseases, their treatments, and how they could personally get involved.  Although each woman’s background was different, they were alike in their beauty and, more importantly, in their desire to give back to their countries and to make a difference.  My ‘trainees’ included:

  • Larissa Costa, Brazil–Miss Brazil 2009 (who graciously braved a language barrier AND a broken toe to headline our event)
  • Nayla Micherif, Brazil–Miss Brazil 1997, Current National Director
  • Justine Pasek, Panama–Miss Universe 2002
  • Crystle Stewart, Texas–Miss USA 2008
  • Amelia Vega, Dominican Republic–Miss Universe 2003
Justine Pasek, Amelia Vega, Kari Stoever (GN), Crystle Stewart, Paula Shugart (MUO), Stormi Henley, Kristen Dalton, Larissa Costa, Nayla Micherif, missing, Erin Hohlfelder. Photograph by Evan Wilder

Justine Pasek, Amelia Vega, Kari Stoever (GN), Crystle Stewart, Paula Shugart (MUO), Stormi Henley, Kristen Dalton, Larissa Costa, Nayla Micherif, Natalia Anderle, Erin Hohlfelder (GN). Photograph by Evan Wilder

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