Monthly Archives: December 2010

2010 NTD Highlights: an eclectic list

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By: Alanna Shaikh

This is not a scientifically sound list. It is not based on any kind of criteria that make sense. It’s just my list, of what I remember as the most interesting developments in 2010 that related to neglected tropical diseases.

1.       The WHO issued its first annual report on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). I was honestly surprised to discover it was the first, but better 2010 than never, right?  This kind of formal recognition of the seriousness of NTDs is a big part of what will make them less neglected. The report itself was thorough and detailed, and called for all the right things – more research, better drug access, and support to build health systems to eliminate the NTDs.

2.       Increased private participation in global health in general, and NTDs in particular. It seemed like the private sector was everywhere this year. We saw large drug donations to treat NTDs, including a five-year commitment from Glaxo Smith Kline to provide albendazole to protect children at risk for intestinal worms and a Sanofi Adventis cash commitment of $25 million dollars. We also saw broader corporate commitment to global health in companies that ranged from Coca-Cola to venture capital efforts.

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12 health solutions we’d like to see more of in 2011

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Reposted with permission from Blog for Global Health.

This blog was written by Global Health Council Policy Communications Intern Allison Kline.

How do you get the most health for your dollar? As the world tightens its belt, people and global health organizations have been focusing on how they can maximize outcomes for the lowest possible cost.

Anastasia Moloney, the Bogotá correspondent for Reuters AlertNet was compiling a top 10 list of “big ideas that cost little” with the aim of producing a list of simple, low-cost innovations in the fields of technology, health, education, water and sanitation that can make a big difference in the developing world.

The question was: “If there was one low-cost solution to improve health and or water and sanitation in the developing world that we need to see more of in 2011, what would it be?

We polled the members of our Global Health Communicators Working Group and here are the 12 ideas they offered (with the nominating organization in parenthesis), in no particular order of priority. Do you agree with them? Do you know any others that should be listed here? If so, please post them below.

Water and sanitation can make a huge difference in improving health by preventing water-borne diseases:

1.  Increased hand washing with soap: According to the Global Handwashing Day website, handwashing with soap before eating and after using the toilet can cut deaths from diarrhea by half, and acute respiratory infections by a quarter — the same health benefits as thousands of dollars in immunization, for just US $3.35 (Global Health Council).

2.  Point-of-use water filters: Vestergaard-Frandsen’s lifestraw provides an effective, affordable way for populations in remote and rural parts of developing countries to obtain safe drinking water, such as areas affected by guinea worm, where treating water sources or eradicating the parasite itself would be a logistical and financial nightmare.

Vaccines are arguably one of the most effective and cost-effective initiatives in global health. Innovation in vaccine delivery and policy make it easier to vaccinate everyone for less:

3.  Increased childhood vaccination: Particularly for preventable diseases such as pneumonia (Hib and pneumococcal), typhoid, rotavirus and rubella (Sabin Vaccine Institute).

4.  Meningitis vaccine: The vaccine, developed through the Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization and PATH, will cost only 40 cents per dose, making it affordable for many African governments (Global Health Technologies Coalition).

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Reading List 12/27/2010

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It is a cold and for some of you, a very snow Monday! I hope that today’s reading list will keep you company as you sip tea and try to keep warm. To start us off the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative has received 1.5 million dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to work on control of the pork tapeworm in poor African communities. In an interesting article, low-income countries trying to keep tuberculosis (TB) under control may be able to seek help in rats trained to sniff out TB. Finally, TOMS Shoes gave out their 1 millionth pair of shoes last week, helping to protect kids from acquiring diseases such as hookworm.

The Schistosomiasis Control Initiative’s Next Target: Cysticercosis, Robert Herriman, the Examiner
Giant Rats Detect Tuberculosis, Nathan Seppa, Science News
Toms donates shoes to kids in Argentina, Michael Warren, Associate Press

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Fa la la la la la la la Lymphatic Filariasis

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By: Amanda Miller

If you celebrate Christmas or any other holiday taking place around this time, and you’re reading this instead of hanging out with family or opening presents or eating a lot of food, it’s highly possible that you’re a global health guru.  Or you could be my mom.  Either way is fine, because I am writing this blog post because today is Christmas.  And that makes me think of neglected tropical diseases.

I recognize that may not seem totally normal.  But here’s the correlation.  Holidays are for family and friends, eating, laughing, playing and acting silly, and getting mad at your strange relatives who are probably equally as mad at their strange relatives (i.e. you), and playing with nieces and nephews.   Over much trial and error, I’ve realized over the years that holidays are simply more fun when my nephews are around.   They get excited, they’re happy, they smile, they want to play with you, and they say goofy things.  They’re curious and inquisitive.  They are, for all intents and purposes, a whole heck of a lot of fun. Continue reading →

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