All posts by Dano Gunderson

Tearing Down the Roadblocks: Another Look at Building the Resilience of Smallholder Farmers

Africa, nutrition, policy,

 

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As I drove home from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport earlier this month, I could not help but notice the electronic bulletins on the I-95 and Capitol Beltway that flashed “D.C. Event Aug 4-6, expect delays.” The event, of course, referred to the first ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, while the delays referred to the inevitable abundance of motorcades.

During the span of those three days, nearly 50 African heads of state gathered in Washington, D.C. for discussions with President Obama, administration officials and business leaders on a range of topics under the theme of “Investing in the Next Generation.” While we expected many roadblocks to be put up around D.C. that week, we were hoping that one major development roadblock would be pulled down during the Summit: neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

These parasitic and bacterial infections affect 1.4 billion people living in poor and marginalized communities around the world, particularly in agricultural populations. Once infected, poor communities remain impoverished due to resulting physical and mental disabilities, including blindness, anemia, immobility, delayed cognitive development and social stigma. NTDs leave children too sick to attend school and keep adults from working. And because NTDs destroy vital social and economic capital, controlling and eliminating these diseases must be an essential element of the emerging new Africa that is increasingly seeking growth through business opportunities.

Regretfully, NTDs and the roadblock they raise against productivity and prosperity were not prioritized at the Summit (outside of a mention in USAID’s press release about its major initiatives). While we were happy to see impressive new private-sector commitments to electricity and food security, particularly to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, the omission of NTDs from those conversations and commitments signaled a missed opportunity for US-Africa relations.

For example, over the past two years, private companies, philanthropists and governments have committed an astounding $10 billion for agriculture investments in Africa through the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. This initiative was launched in 2012 to build on the commitments made by G7/8 leaders to achieve sustained and inclusive agricultural growth, food security and good nutrition in the region over the next ten years.

While the New Alliance (and many other initiatives) is undeniably doing great work at strengthening the resilience of agricultural communities in Africa, fighting NTDs is an immediate and cost-effective opportunity that is available now to expand and strengthen these efforts. By working to reduce the incidence of NTDs in Africa, partners could positively impact the New Alliance’s same target areas, and more importantly, the poorest populations most affected by poor nutrition and food security.

Because Africa’s core agricultural workforce — smallholder subsistence farmers — are disproportionately affected by NTDs, the billions of dollars in agricultural investments made by governments and the private sector could be undermined if NTD control and elimination is not prioritized. In fact, smallholder farmers will be less productive and derive fewer benefits from New Alliance funding if NTDs are not addressed.

NTD infections also prevent people from enjoying the benefits of having access to a diverse, nutrient-rich diet. Roundworms, for example, compete with children for key nutrients and vitamins in order to grow. As a result, roundworm infections and other NTDs have serious consequences on a child’s growth and development, leading to micronutrient deficiencies, stunting and overall poor nutritional status.

Simply put, the New Alliance’s goals of achieving food security and good nutrition in Africa cannot be fully and sustainably achieved without addressing NTDs.

Many incredible (and highly cost-effective) victories have been won in the fight against NTDs, but greater investments are still needed to help smallholder farmers overcome the first basic roadblock to doing good business. Tackling NTDs truly helps communities invest in the next generation by offering them the opportunity to participate in their own sustainable solutions to poverty.

Watch for more information from the Global Network on the important linkages between NTDs and nutrition in the coming months!

Global Network Releases a New Report on NTD Control and Elimination

Global Development, , ,

 

Today, the Global Network released a new report entitled “Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases: Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs.” This report offers an analysis of the progress made, challenges remaining and new opportunities in the global effort to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2020. This report stems from discussions at the Development Agency Roundtable, which was held in Berlin, Germany last year and hosted together by the Global Network, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and World Bank Group.

With forward sections from our four NTD Special Envoys, incredible NTD success stories from Burundi, India, and Mexico, and recognition of the importance of addressing from leaders of global development organizations, the report is a powerful new advocacy tool to raise attention to NTDs. The report calls for national governments and other partners worldwide to:

  • Recognize the impact of NTDs as a key underlying constraint to global economic growth, poverty and inequality reduction, educational achievement and nutrition.
  • Institutionalize NTD control and elimination efforts in foreign policy, development and poverty reduction agendas.
  • Invest in and prioritize nationally-led integrated NTD plans by providing political support, reliable long-term financing and technical assistance.
  • Promote the fight against NTDs in international and regional forums and support the inclusion of NTD-specific goals and targets in the post-2015 development agenda.

We hope you enjoy the report, and feel free to share it with friends and colleagues.

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Breaking Now on Capitol Hill: Introducing the End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act

policy,

 

A remarkable new bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week that has the potential to help turn the tide in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the “End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act” already enjoys bi-partisan support from co-sponsors Reps. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Greg Meeks (D-NY).

The End Neglected Diseases Act was sparked by last year’s Subcommittee hearing on “Addressing the Neglected Diseases Treatment Gap” conducted by Congressman Smith, which featured testimony from Dr. Peter Hotez, president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and other NTD experts.

The legislation takes a wide approach to supporting the control and eliminate of NTDs, both in the U.S. and abroad. If passed, the bill would expand USAID’s NTD Program to target more diseases and better integrate programs, direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to research the impact of NTDs in the U.S. and require U.S. policymakers to advocate for increased NTDs efforts among international institutions such as the World Bank and United Nations. The bill will also create one or more NTD centers of excellence and establish a panel on intestinal worm infections to encourage increased R&D for tools to diagnose, prevent, treat and control NTDs.

The End Neglected Diseases Act would be a great compliment to the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to fight these diseases and help to fill the remaining global treatment gaps. Since the launch of USAID’s NTD Program in fiscal year 2006, the program has exceeded expectations by delivering more than one billion treatments to nearly 468 million people, leveraging $6.7 billion worth of donated medicines across 25 developing countries. However, there is still much work to be done to achieve the World Health Organization’s NTD control and elimination goals by 2020; this new piece of legislation could play a significant role in achieving these goals.

Please click here to read more about the bill, including reactions from experts at the Sabin Vaccine Institute and Global Network.

Look out for our upcoming advocacy action next week, which will allow you to easily send a letter to your representative in Congress, urging him or her to co-sponsor the End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act (or send a thank you note to those that are already co-sponsors). And, if you need a quick refresher on how a bill becomes a law, I recommend Schoolhouse Rock classic.

Global Network Co-hosts Staff Briefings on Capitol Hill

Africa, policy, R&D, ,

 

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The policy team at the Global Network was busy this week taking the issue of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) up to Capitol Hill. Together with members of the NTD Roundtable, a group of global health partners committed to fighting NTDs, we co-sponsored an NTD staff briefing in the House of Representatives on Thursday May 8, and once again in the Senate on Monday May 12. The briefings were held to discuss the impact of USAID’s NTD Program, the significance of U.S. leadership in the fight against NTDs, the potential impact of the expanded FY14 funding of $100 million for NTDs, and the need for greater NTD R&D to address treatment gaps.

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The House briefing was held the same day that USAID announced the delivery of its one billionth NTD treatment since the launch of its NTD Program in fiscal year 2006. USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health, Dr. Ariel Pablos-Méndez, recognized the occasion by visiting a mass drug administration site in Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Haiti. During the visit, Dr. Pablos-Méndez said “the power of committed partnerships” is a key ingredient in USAID’s successful NTD Program, which brings together ministries of health, implementing NGOs, and pharmaceutical companies to form the largest public-private partnership inthe Agency’s 50-year history.

Neeraj with His Excellency Maman Sidikou, Ambassador of Niger, at the House staff briefing

Neeraj with His Excellency Maman Sidikou, Ambassador of Niger, at the House staff briefing

The Hill briefings were attended by representatives from key House and Senate committees, the NGO community, and the African diplomatic corps –including the Ambassador of Niger, His Excellency Maman Sidikou, and the Ambassador of Burkina Faso, His Excellency Seydou Bouda.  Global Network Managing Director, Neeraj Mistry, provided opening remarks and moderated the event, and presentations were given by Dr. Achille Kabore of RTI, Andrea Rudolph of Médecins Sans Frontières and Rachel Cohen of DNDi. During the briefings, participants also viewed the END7 campaign’s , “Myanmar’s Moment.” The video highlights an END7-supported mass drug administration program in Myanmar.

Following the formal presentation in the House, the speakers and participants engaged in a lively discussion surrounding the treatment of lymphatic filariasis and intestinal worms, the efficacy of certain NTD medicines, the NTD legislation that Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) plans to introduce soon, and how best to educate and showcase the success of NTD programs to the African diplomatic community. Ambassador Sidikou of Niger re-iterated that success stories must be highlighted to encourage program expansion; Niger was one of USAID’s first five fast-track countries that were the original focus of the NTD Program in FY2006. Since then, USAID has distributed 115 million NTD treatments and Niger is on track to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2015.

Neeraj with His Excellency Seydou Bouda, Ambassador of Burkina Faso, at the Senate staff briefing

Neeraj with His Excellency Seydou Bouda, Ambassador of Burkina Faso, at the Senate staff briefing

After the presentations in the Senate, the audience discussed advocacy for NTDs, what needs to be done to reach the WHO’s 2020 goals, and how to mix the need to use currently available tools to treat NTDs and the need to design new tools to improve or discover new treatments. Ambassador Bouda of Burkina Faso expressed gratitude for the great work that is being done in his country to fight NTDs; Burkina Faso is also a USAID fast-track country, and nearly 146 million treatments have been distributed since the NTD Program began operations.

The staff briefings were a great opportunity to demonstrate to Congress the success and effectiveness of NTD control and elimination programs. With the support of USAID, leading pharmaceutical companies, NGO partners and the commitment of NTD-endemic countries, we’re getting closer to controlling and eliminating NTDs worldwide.