Latest News from the Global Network

Trachoma casts shadow over Aboriginal communities

erinh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:25:22 -0600

A study has found that an eye disease that causes blindness is still a big problem in Indigenous communities.

Ecuador Becomes Second Country in the Americas to Halt River Blindness Transmission

erinh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:02:49 -0600

ATLANTA….Carter Center experts congratulate the people of Ecuador for breaking transmission of the blinding parasitic disease river blindness, or onchocerciasis. Ecuador is the second nation in the Americas after Colombia (in 2008) to stop the transmission of this debilitating, yet preventable affliction on a countrywide basis, according to officials of the Ministry of Health of Ecuador and the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program in the Americas (OEPA).

Fighting Deadly Neglected Tropical Diseases: Opportunities to Expand U.S. Impact in Control of NTDs

erinh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:31:22 -0600

Over 1 billion people are infected with one of the 14 diseases defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These are the most common infections in the 2.7 billion people living on less than $2 a day and affects those often marginalized and forgotten by governments, left to suffer in silence. NTDs are diverse but all cause severe disability or death, and bring a major economic burden on endemic countries.

Drug shows promise against river blindness

erinh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:42:14 -0600

Closantel, an old drug used to treat sheep and cattle infected with liver fluke, may prove effective in fighting river blindness in humans, a major cause of infection-related blindness, according to a new study.

The President’s Budget: Neglected Tropical Diseases

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:22:29 -0600

In a period of intense fiscal restraint, domestically and globally, there are going to be many global health and development advocates that are displeased by the release of President Obama’s FY2011 Budget Request today. But as one of ONE’s newest employees—and only a month out from my previous job doing policy work for the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases—I have to admit that I’m quietly wearing my party hat after seeing President Obama’s request of $155 million for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Obama budget boosts funds for tropical diseases

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:39 -0600

President Barack Obama's budget proposes a unique new initiative -- battling some tropical diseases not just to improve health but as a national security strategy.

Gates Foundation Commits $13 Million to Eliminate Two Tropical Diseases

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:25:07 -0600

The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has announced a five-year, $13 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve efforts to eliminate two parasitic diseases, elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) and river blindness (onchocerciasis), in the developing world.

Extra Money for Science in Obama’s Budget

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:19:42 -0600

Calming fears that scientific research would be hurt by the Obama administration, the budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services was $81.3 billion, up from $79.6 billion a year ago. And the National Institutes of Health saw its budget request rise by $1 billion, to $32 billion, more than was requested last year.

White House Proposes 9% Increase in Global-Health Funding

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:37:53 -0600

The Obama administration proposed a 9% increase in funding for global health needs in its fiscal 2011 budget, pledging to spend more to combat preventable diseases and reduce deaths among women and children at a time when it is tightening its belt elsewhere.

Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Applauds Obama Administration’s Commitment to Controlling and Eliminating NTDs

erinh — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:48:18 -0600

The following is a statement from Dr.

Obama Budget Aids War Zones, Global Health Programs

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:12:21 -0600

The Obama administration proposed to boost funding on global health work and civilian and counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq in its spending plan for the State Department and related programs.

The Gates Foundation’s expansion of its support, and the thinking that lies behind it

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:27:24 -0600

The Gates Foundation becomes ever more influential in research and control efforts that address the infectious diseases of poverty. At the World Economic Forum, Bill and Melinda Gates announced a new $10 billion, 10-year commitment to support vaccine development and delivery – the largest commitment the foundation has ever made.

Neglected Tropical Diseases Not Limited to Tropics: Diseases Found in the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic

erinh — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:19:38 -0600

Demonstrating that the burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is not just dependent on climate, but mainly related to incidence of poverty

Parasites: ‘Tropical’ Diseases Are Common in Arctic Dwellers, a Survey Finds

erinh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:28:18 -0600

The kind of worm and protozoan infections that are often called neglected “tropical” diseases are also common among aboriginal peoples living in the Arctic, according to a recent survey.

Gandhi's Hookworms

erinh — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:00:40 -0600

Toward the end of his life, Mohandas Gandhi suffered from a hookworm infection.

Earthquake in Haiti

erinh — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:19:00 -0600

As we know first-hand from our work in fighting neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Haiti, the impact of this devastating earthquake will be felt for years to come. It is incumbent on all of us to do our part to help the people of Haiti get through this tragic situation.

Global Network Ambassador and Actress Alyssa Milano Commits to Matching Donation by Campus Challenge Group Campaign Winner

erinh — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:24:43 -0600

The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases announced today that up to $25,000 of a previous donation that actress Alyssa Milano pledged in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs),

Gifts with global meaning

erinh — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:20:48 -0600

Were the kids demanding the latest murder-and-mayhem video game? Do your loved ones have all the neckties/bottles of perfume/sweaters that can be used in a lifetime? Tired of celebrating spiritual holidays with crass commercialism?

A Note from the Global Network

erinh — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:10:25 -0600

With great regret The Sabin Vaccine Institute announces the resignation of Kari Stoever.

Ms. Stoever has been with Sabin since 2004. She initially served as Program Manager for the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative. In 2006, she transitioned to help establish the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, the catalyst for bringing an integrated global approach to combating neglected tropical diseases that affect nearly one in six humans.

Lack of R&D and scale up of treatment plagues patients with neglected diseases

erinh — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:22:51 -0600

More than 400 million people are at risk for the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) visceral leishmaniasis (kala azar), sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and Buruli ulcer. The first three are the deadliest of all the NTDs, and all four have been highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as especially troublesome due to treatment and diagnostic tools that are old, ineffective, or worst, simply non-existent, and patient populations stuck in remote or insecure areas with little or no access to already limited available treatments.

How to Cure 1 Billion People?--Defeat Neglected Tropical Diseases

erinh — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:20:02 -0600

Key Concepts
A group of seven tropical diseases, mostly caused by parasitic worms, afflict a billion impoverished people worldwide. They seldom kill directly but cause lifelong misery that stunts children’s growth, leaves adults unable to function to their fullest, and heightens the risk of other diseases.

Global Network Applauds U.S. Senate Approval of Funds to Help Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases

erinh — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:50:04 -0600

The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, a major initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, hailed Senate action to increase funding to end the neglect of disabling, devastating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the Senate FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Conference Report.

Mass Drug Administration; Not a Cure, But a Necessary Treatment

erinh — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:46:01 -0600

Right now, American public school children are getting their H1N1 vaccines in nurse's offices all across the United States. And while swine flu is a concern here in Rwanda where I live, the impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on the population's well-being and productivity is much greater and cannot be compared to anything in the States.

I'm Giving Up My 37th Birthday!

erinh — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:54:47 -0600

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water." - LORAN EISELY

I'm giving up my 37th Birthday and it has nothing to do with vanity or nearing the big 4-0. I couldn't care less about numbers as they pertain to my age. I do, however, care about age when it pertains to those throughout the world who don't make it to their 37th birthdays because of a lack of clean drinking water and proper sanitation.

WHO, partners review river blindness elimination progress in Africa

erinh — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:57:26 -0600

TUNIS, Tunisia, December 7, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The governing board of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), comprising Health Ministers of the participating countries, representatives of donor countries and institutions and other health development partners meets in the Tunisian capital to review progress towards elimination of the scourge of river blindness from the continent.