Monthly Archives: July 2012

END7: Thanks for the Support!

NTDs

Today was a banner day for the END7 campaign! More than 25 million people learned how easy it is to treat and prevent NTDs! Celebrities like Katy Perry, Stella McCartney, Slash, Norah Jones, Alyssa Milano, The Kooks, Tom Felton, Ewan McGregor and others encouraged their fans and followers to watch our “Mission in a Minute” video and learn more about END7!

Here is the full list of our celebrity supporters:

 

Join these stars in spreading the word about how we can begin to see the end of these devastating diseases.  Just click one of the buttons below to send a short tweet!

 

 

 

New Celebvocates Support END7 Campaign on Twitter!

NTDs

We’re so happy that the news about our incredible END7 campaign is catching on.  Since we launched END7 in January, around the world have signed up to show their support for eliminating the seven most common NTDs by 2020!

Recently, our Twitter feed has also received some love from several entertainers and stars, including Norah Jones, Ewan McGregor, MC Hammer, Tom Felton, The Kooks, Alyssa Milano and Danny DeVito.  Industry groups including EMI Music, Virgin Records, Capitol Records and Blue Note Records have also voiced their support – music to our ears!

 

If you’re not following us on Twitter yet, take a moment to or follow hashtag #END7.  Starting tomorrow, we’re launching another big push (with support from some surprise celebrities!) to gain more supporters who want to see the end of NTDs.

You can help us by taking a minute out of your day to introduce END7 to your friends and colleagues. We’ve made it super easy: just click here to send a short tweet.

 

Could alcohol-based hand washing be effective in the prevention of NTDs?

IDB, Latin America and the Caribbean, WASH

By Agustin Caceres

One of the main challenges of fighting neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the poorest, most isolated communities of LAC is the lack of access to clean, safe water. It has been demonstrated that this is one of the main risk factors for the transmission of several water-borne diseases and, together with some cultural aspects, is the main burden when it comes to promoting healthy hygiene habits for the prevention of NTDs like soil-transmitted helminths (STH).

Promoting hand and face washing in different communities affected by NTDs, particularly among children, is an important component of projects throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In Chiapas, for instance, this is one of the main activities carried out as part of the social mobilization strategy of a project supported by the NTD Initiative for LAC for the elimination of trachoma, STH, and the control of other NTDs in this Mexican State.

But, what happens when water is not available? How can we reduce the incidence of diseases related to poor hygiene in challenging settings like childcare centers? In a paper titled A cluster-randomized controlled trial of hand rubs for prevention of infectious diseases among children in Colombia, a group of researchers has concluded that alcohol-based hand rubs are effective in reducing the incidence of some diseases in children aged 1-5, particularly acute diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, in childcare centers. The study took place at 42 childcare centers with sporadic and limited water availability in six towns in Colombia, and participants were randomly assigned to use alcohol-based hand washing as a complement to regular hand washing.

Can alcohol-based hand washing be effective for the prevention of STH or trachoma?

Preliminary evidence indicates this strategy might be worth including as part of projects aimed at the prevention of NTDs; however, the floor is open for discussion.

 

Agustin Caceres is Communications and Outreach Officer at the Social Protection and Health Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington DC.

Jon Secada Recognized for Raising Hepatitis Awareness as PAHO Celebrates World Hepatitis Day

Latin America and the Caribbean, NTDs

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) held a special event yesterday on World Hepatitis Day, recognizing three-time GRAMMY award winner Jon Secada for his work to bring about hepatitis awareness in the Americas. During the event, Jon Secada spoke about his personal experience losing his father to hepatitis C last year. He also spoke of his commitment to educating people in the Americas on the hepatitis viruses throughout his career and through the organization- along with Gregg Allman and Natalie Cole- “Tune In to Hep C”.

Dr. Luis Gerardo Castellanos, PAHO Senior Advisor on communicable diseases, discussed the situation of viral hepatitis in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). He stressed the importance of fighting all five types of hepatitis and the right of everyone infected to be given equal attention. The event also highlighted success stories in Argentina and Cuba, as well as a commitment to scale-up prevention strategies in Jamaica. Closing remarks by Dr. Steven Ault, PAHO Regional Advisor on neglected infectious diseases, emphasized spreading awareness and having compassion for those suffering from hepatitis.

The region has taken steps to carry out a World Health Assembly resolution to reduce disease burden in the region All LAC countries have incorporated hepatitis B vaccines into their immunization programs, and Argentina, Panama and Uruguay have also included vaccinations for hepatitis A. Additionally, PAHO has created the Viral Hepatitis Working Group to provide technical assistance and other support to countries working to build their response to hepatitis. Continue reading →

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