Intensified control of neglected diseases: report of an international workshop, Berlin, 10–12 December 2003
Overview
Intensive efforts are currently underway to control and prevent the major killer diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Nevertheless, many millions of people in the world today are unable to lead healthy, productive lives because they are incapacitated by diseases such as lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), schistosomiasis, intestinal parasites, leprosy, sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) and leishmaniasis and are unable to achieve their full potential. Those suffering the most live in resource poor communities, without political influence, and often in remote areas, conflict zones or urban slums where there is little or no access to health or other services.
These neglected diseases have afflicted humanity since time immemorial, incapacitating millions of people. Paradoxically these diseases have a low profile and status in public health priorities. The lack of reliable statistics on the disease burden, and often even their unpronounceable names, has hampered efforts to bring these diseases out of the shadows and they continue to take a heavy toll.
The high morbidity of neglected diseases affects school attendance, cognitive development, growth and overall productivity. These diseases also often lead to severe disabilities thereby impairing people’s ability to earn a livelihood. The burden of chronic care perpetuates misery and suffering.
As neglected diseases primarily affect marginalized communities, they tend to be hidden below the “radar screens” of health services and politicians. Moreover, as they do not pose a threat to developed countries and do not travel easily, mobilizing international attention, and above all resources, is a major challenge.
There is an urgent need for new tools to tackle some of these diseases as current treatments tend to be very complex and highly toxic. However, new models to finance research and development need to be found as traditional market mechanisms fail in the absence of a commercial market.
The strategy for addressing these diseases needs to be set in the context of wider public health measures and pro-poor policies that also address issues such as lack of educational opportunities and access to clean water and sanitation.