Tag Archives: ONE campaign

Impacting NTDs and the “Big Three”

The 2011 World Health Summit wrapped up last month in Berlin, Germany. The Global Network was in attendance represented by Managing Director Dr. Neeraj Mistry, who discusses on the ONE Campaign Germany blog the importance of integrating efforts to address NTDs with those that address the “Big Three” – HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Find the English version of the blogpost below:

By: Dr. Neeraj Mistry, Managing Director of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases

The 2011 World Health Summit brought together over 1,500 global health experts from over 75 countries to raise awareness of key issues in global health during October 23-26.  One such issue that the global health community must address is neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Over the last month, I’ve talked with you here on the ONE Deutschland Blog about the global impact of NTDs. We desperately need to draw attention to these diseases, to raise public awareness, and eventually eliminate NTDs.  At the World Health Summit, the Global Network hosted a symposium where we discussed the link between NTD control with control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Today I’d like to extend that discussion to you.

NTD treatment improves not only the health, but also the economic development and education of individuals and entire communities. Addressing NTDs will be essential to meeting the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), meant to help lift the world’s poorest countries out of extreme poverty by the year 2015. In light of that, the United States, the United Kingdom and other G8 member countries have made commitments to NTD programs that have resulted in enormous gains in the treatment and prevention of these diseases. Continue reading

The Case for a Global NTD Initiative

As the 2011 World Health Summit approaches next week, the Global Network’s Managing Director Dr. Neeraj Mistry contributes another blogpost to the ONE Campaign Germany. Find the English version below:

By Dr. Neeraj Mistry, Managing Director, Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases

In my previous blog post, I identified neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as some of the most common yet widely unrecognized diseases currently in the global health arena. NTDs have debilitating effects–impairing the health, economic development and education of the world’s poorest people, also known as the “bottom billion.” We call them neglected diseases because the 1.4 billion people who suffer from NTDs are often far from the houses and minds of people living in the developed world. It’s not all bad news, though. Not only are many of these diseases entirely treatable and preventable, but there have already been significant steps taken towards the control and elimination of NTDs.

Through the remarkable commitment of the United States, the United Kingdom and members of the G8, we have seen enormous gains in the treatment and prevention of NTDs around the world. The U.S. government’s commitment to eliminating NTDs has rapidly expanded in recent years. Through the establishment of USAID’s NTD program, the U.S. created a unique and extremely cost-effective public-private partnership that successfully facilitated the first large-scale efforts to integrate existing disease-specific treatment programs. Since its launch in 2006, the USAID NTD program, in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry, has expanded to countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas–improving the lives of more than 168 million people by delivering approximately 387 million NTD treatments, and training more than 200,000 community workers. Continue reading

Gates Foundation Transitions The Living Proof Project to ONE

Today the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made an important announcement.  A special project they launched, ‘The Living Proof Project: U.S. Investments in Global Health Are Working’ will now transfer over to the ONE Campaign.

The Living Proof Project was initially concieved to demonstrate successes in global health interventions worldwide. By sharing captivating stories of hope through a wide range of multimedia platforms, “Living Proof”emphasized that targeted interventions do save and improve lives afflicted by poverty and disease.

According to the official press announcement:

“ONE will expand The Living Proof Project to reach new audiences in more countries around an expanded set of development issues, including agriculture and access to clean water. ONE will also broaden The Living Proof Project beyond the U.S. to highlight the impact of European investments. The launch of this effort will include an event in London this fall featuring Bill and Melinda Gates. ONE will also collaborate closely with organizations working on the ground in developing countries to get the word out about the work they are doing to save lives and create opportunity.

With 2 million members globally and a record of creating cutting-edge advocacy campaigns, ONE will lead the next evolution of The Living Proof Project. ONE and its partners will incorporate The Living Proof Project content into their ongoing efforts to inspire and challenge people around the world to help secure long term, sustainable support from G8 and G20 nations for international development.”

We are excited by this news and look forward to seeing the dynamic ways that ONE will shape “Living Proof!” We also look forward to sharing and highlighting stories of optimism and progress here on End The Neglect!