 |
|
Tropical disease experts call for a 'Global Fund to Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases'
March 26, 2008An international team of tropical disease control experts has urged the global health and development community, and particularly the G8 leaders, to establish a new financing mechanism to combat the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) of poverty.
A "Global Fund to Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases," say Professor Hotez (Sabin Vaccine Institute and George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA) and colleagues, would "satisfy an urgent need to support NTD control and elimination." Their argument is published in the March 26th issue of the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
The NTDs, such as intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, elephantiasis, and river blindness, represent the most common infections of the world's poorest-the bottom billion. They are a major reason, say the authors, why the world's poorest people cannot escape a vicious, downward spiral of poverty.
Fortunately, they say, "we are now in a unique position to control or eliminate some of the highest burden NTDs through integrated use of donated drugs." The mass administration of such drugs just once a year has been the cornerstone of global projects aimed at tackling several of the NTDs, and the launch of a dedicated fund to scale up these activities would be "one of the most cost-effective and urgently needed approaches for sustainable poverty reduction."
A blueprint for such a funding mechanism already exists: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, established in 2002, has attracted $4.7 billion in financing for these three diseases. Professor Hotez and colleagues argue that the mandate of this fund could easily be expanded to include the NTDs.
Thus a new fund for NTDs could be established that uses a similar mechanism to that of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Countries burdened by NTDs would apply to the new fund for financing for NTD control efforts, and an expert board (supported by the expertise of the World Health Organization) could vet the applications.
"An important next step," say the authors, "would be to address global NTD control at the annual G8 leaders summit." The summit will be held in Hokkaido Toyako, Japan, later this year. "While gathered in Japan, the development community needs a robust discussion about the importance of the NTDs as global health, educational, and economic threats."
The G8 summit, they say, presents an opportunity for G8 leaders to consider earmarking specific funds for NTD control. "A comparatively modest amount of funds-in the range of $2 billion in total over 5 years-should be deposited and earmarked for treatment programs targeting the poorest populations in the poorest countries."
The proposal to establish a "Global Fund to Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases" is co-authored by Professor David Molyneux (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK), Professor Alan Fenwick (Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College London, UK), Dr Lorenzo Savioli (Director, Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland), and Professor Tsutomu Takeuchi (Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan).
http://www.plosntds.org/doi/pntd.0000220
Public Library of Science
Fortunately, they say, "we are now in a unique position to control or eliminate some of the highest burden NTDs through integrated use of donated drugs." The mass administration of such drugs just once a year has been the cornerstone of global projects aimed at tackling several of the NTDs, and the launch of a dedicated fund to scale up these activities would be "one of the most cost-effective and urgently needed approaches for sustainable poverty reduction."
A blueprint for such a funding mechanism already exists: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, established in 2002, has attracted $4.7 billion in financing for these three diseases. Professor Hotez and colleagues argue that the mandate of this fund could easily be expanded to include the NTDs.
Thus a new fund for NTDs could be established that uses a similar mechanism to that of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Countries burdened by NTDs would apply to the new fund for financing for NTD control efforts, and an expert board (supported by the expertise of the World Health Organization) could vet the applications.
"An important next step," say the authors, "would be to address global NTD control at the annual G8 leaders summit." The summit will be held in Hokkaido Toyako, Japan, later this year. "While gathered in Japan, the development community needs a robust discussion about the importance of the NTDs as global health, educational, and economic threats."
The G8 summit, they say, presents an opportunity for G8 leaders to consider earmarking specific funds for NTD control. "A comparatively modest amount of funds-in the range of $2 billion in total over 5 years-should be deposited and earmarked for treatment programs targeting the poorest populations in the poorest countries."
The proposal to establish a "Global Fund to Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases" is co-authored by Professor David Molyneux (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK), Professor Alan Fenwick (Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College London, UK), Dr Lorenzo Savioli (Director, Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland), and Professor Tsutomu Takeuchi (Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan).
http://www.plosntds.org/doi/pntd.0000220
Public Library of Science
Tropical Disease Current Events and Tropical Disease News RSSScientists decode genome of deadly parasitic worm
Scientists have sequenced the genome of the parasite that causes intestinal schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia or snail fever), a devastating tropical disease that afflicts more than 200 million people in the developing world.
New test may help to ensure that dengue vaccines do no harm
As vaccines against a virus that infects 100 million people annually reach late-stage clinical trials this year, researchers have developed a test to better predict whether a given vaccine candidate should protect patients from the infection, or in some cases, make it more dangerous, according to an article just published in the journal Clinical and Vaccine Immunology.
Biomarkers in blood could aid diagnosis of crippling, often fatal forms of malaria
Canadian researchers have identified protein biomarkers that shed new light on the development of two severe and debilitating forms of malaria.
New role for Natural Killers!
Scientists at the University of York have discovered a new role for a population of white blood cells, which may lead to improved treatments for chronic infections and cancer.
Study finds doxycycline effective against filariasis in Southeast Asia
Doxycycline alone is more effective against the most common form of filariasis in Southeast Asia than the standard treatment, with significantly fewer side effects, according to a new study published in the May 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and currently available online.
Parasitic tropical diseases in the Americas, a legacy of slavery, can be eliminated
Although it has been speculated for more than a century that the slave trade was responsible for bringing many tropical diseases to the Americas, only recently has convincing evidence shown that lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), schistosomiasis, and onchocerciasis (river blindness) originated in this way.
Study finds multiple neglected tropical diseases effectively treated with drugs
The neglected tropical diseases are a group of 13 infectious diseases, including elephantiasis, hookworm, African sleeping sickness and trachoma, which affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, most of whom live in extreme poverty.
UVA Researchers Study Link Between "Alzheimer's Gene"
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Federal University of Ceará in Brazil have joined forces to study if the gene believed to contribute to Alzheimer's protects children from the developmental stresses of early childhood diarrhea.
Targeting wolbachia, doxycycline reduces pathology of lymphatic filariasis
Lymphatic filariasis, a mosquito-borne tropical disease that afflicts 120 million people worldwide, can cause debilitating swelling of the legs and genital areas.
Malaria treatment efficacy compromised in certain HIV-positive patients
A weakened immune response resulting from HIV infection can lead to trouble when it comes to treating malaria.
More Tropical Disease Current Events and Tropical Disease News Articles
 |
Manson's Tropical Diseases: Expert Consult by Gordon C. Cook MD DSc FRCP(Lond) FRCP(Edin) FRACP FLS (Author), Alimuddin I. Zumla BSc MBChB MSc PhD(Lond) FRCP(Lond) FRCP(Edin) (Author) From the difficult to diagnose to the difficult to treat, be prepared for whatever your patients bring back. The revised and updated 22nd edition of Manson's Tropical Diseases provides you with the latest coverage on emerging and re-emerging diseases from around the world, such as multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria, the avian flu, and more. Boxes and tables highlight key information on current therapies. And now, as an Expert Consult title, you can access the information you need online as well as in print! Covers every aspect of Tropical Medicine in detail, not just infections. Takes both a system-based and a disease approach, with extensive cross-referencing to minimize duplication. Includes a strong clinical focus, emphasized by clinical management... |
 |
Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine (Oxford Handbooks Series) by Michael Eddleston (Author), Robert Davidson (Author), Andrew Brent (Author), Robert Wilkinson (Author) Delivering the facts to your fingertips, the Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine provides an accessible and comprehensive, signs-and-symptoms-based source of information on medical problems commonly seen in the tropics. A handy guide which can fit in the coat pocket and be used easily at the bedside, it has been designed to be as practical as possible with illustrations of blood films and stool smears, which are useful for diagnosis, as well as clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Medical conditions are ordered by system except for the five major tropical conditions - malaria, HIV/STIs, tuberculosis, diarrhoeal diseases, and acute respiratory infections - and fevers. In this new edition the sections on malaria, cardiology, chest medicine, gastroenterology, mental health and... |
 |
Tropical Disease Flipron (Primary Contributor) |
 |
Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases: The Neglected Tropical Diseases and Their Impact on Global Health and Development by Peter J., Ph.D. Hotez (Author) Some of the worst tropical diseases in the world have too long been ignored. Parasitic and bacterial diseases such as hookworm, snail fever, river blindness, guinea worm, elephantiasis, sleeping sickness, and leprosy are the most common infections of third-world populations. These neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent one of the most important reasons why populations living in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America remain caught in a vicious cycle of poverty, stigma, and despair.
With a lifetime devoted to the subject of tropical diseases, the well-known expert Dr. Peter Hotez provides a comprehensive view of these forgotten diseases. Written in accessible, straightforward language, Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases thoroughly explains the most significant NTDs,... |
 |
Tropical Disease AUSTRALIA IMPORT OFF THE HIP RECORDS 2008 Swamp, blues, surf and garage all go into MIDNIGHT WOOLF's heady brew. "Tropical Disease" is their fourth, and best, album. Think Cramps, Gun Club, Johnny Cash, or Australia's own Exotics |
 |
Infectious and Tropical Diseases: A Handbook for Primary Care by Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett (Author), Charles Kemp (Author), Carrie Kovarik (Author) This practical reference provides a single, concise source of current information on the diseases and conditions common among immigrants, refugees, travelers, and persons in contact with these populations in the developed world. An easy-to-use format makes this reference ideal for primary care and other providers in a variety of clinical settings. It also features content on agents that may be used as biological warfare. * Diseases and conditions are arranged in alphabetical order for quick reference. * Concise discussions of 93 infectious diseases and conditions of immigrants, refugees, travelers, and those in contact with these populations * The ability to search by either signs and symptoms, geographic area, or diseases and disorders. * A discussion on emerging infectious diseases and... |
 |
Classic Malaria Films DVD: 1940s Malaria Disease Symptoms & Treatments History Films Considered a major epidemic during the 1940's, malaria caused many health and economic problems to Americans. This DVD features two informative films on the life cycle of the mosquitoes that transmit malaria, including information on their breeding places, and the risks they impose to families. Take a close-up look at these pesky insects! Table of Contents: (1) Criminal At Large (1945) - This cartoon from 1945 documents the life cycle of the Anopheles mosquito and the way in which malaria is spread. Cartoons and animated diagrams show the breeding places and life cycle of an Anopheles mosquito and its method of transmitting malaria - 12 Minutes (2) Malaria (1944) - This black and white film is about the origination, transmission, and prevention of malaria. Still pictures show a farm... |
 |
Durex Value Pack Condoms 48-pk. - Tropical by Durex |
 |
Papaya Juice Natural Kosher 16 fl. oz. by Dynamic Health Laboratories Papaya juice is a great everyday drink and also good in ice cold smoothies, mixed drinks, and even for baking. |
 |
A-Z of Tropical Fish Diseases and Health Problems by Peter Burgess (Author), Mary Bailey (Author), Adrian Exell (Author) The aim of this book is to help aquarists recognize signs of illness so they can identify and resolve problems. Divided into three sections, the first focuses on health and husbandry, describing the signs of a healthy fish, anatomy and general care; the second provides signs of diseases and health problems and is cross-referenced to section three, which covers the treatment of diseases and health problems. Illustrated throughout with top-quality color photos, the book is an invaluable reference for novice to experienced fishkeepers. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |