Posts Tagged ‘Global Health Initiative’

Peace through Vaccine Diplomacy

March 11th, 2010

Later this month President Obama is leaving on a trip to Indonesia, marking a major diplomatic trip to the most populous Muslim nation in the world. In order to improve US relations with the Muslim world there are many diplomatic tools available. One of those, according to a new editorial in Science Magazine by Dr. Peter Hotez, is vaccine diplomacy.

Vaccine diplomacy is forging tighter bonds between nations by uniting against a common foe: disease. Citing the little known collaboration between American and Russian scientists, including Dr. Albert B. Sabin, during the Cold War that resulted in the creation of the oral polio vaccine, Hotez states that similar scientific collaborations between the United States and Islamic nations—where up to one-half of the world’s neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) occur—could lead to great scientific and societal achievements.

The longer term benefit of this vaccine diplomacy would come from eliminating the burden of disease. Muslim nations worldwide suffer greatly from the burden of NTDs, perpetuating poverty and creating instability, internally and internationally. By helping to enrich and stabilize Muslim nations, vaccine diplomacy could go a long way to helping America improve its international standing.

Access the full Science editorial here or listen to the podcast interview with Dr. Hotez here.

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, National Security, Obama Administration, Politics, Public Health, U.S Government, Vaccine Diplomacy, policy, poverty

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Gates and Clinton Urge Increased Investment in Global Health

March 10th, 2010

Today, former President Bill Clinton and Bill Gates appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss the United States’ commitment to global health.   Recognized for their profound leadership in the field, each shared from personal experience the advances they have seen over the last 10 years in drug cost reductions, vaccine development, and treatment delivery and urged the Congress to continue funding these efforts.

They praised the work of previous administrations in targeting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis and applauded the new Global Health Initiative (GHI) announced by President Obama last year that would develop greater integration in the delivery of healthcare in developing countries—particularly for women and children.   President Clinton noted that infrastructure development will be a key component in moving the global health agenda forward, along with raising awareness among the American people of the important role global health plays in U.S. foreign policy.  Although, neglected tropical diseases were not mentioned specifically, they are listed as a target in GHI.

Overall, the hearing was positive step in demonstrating that bi-partisanship still does exist in a few spots on Capitol Hill and with the right amount of persuasion and energy global health interventions cannot only transform a community, but save lives.

 

Watch the hearing here

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Obama Administration, Politics, Public Health, U.S Government, policy, poverty

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Global Network Joins Call to Fully Fund International Affairs Budget

March 5th, 2010

When the Obama Administration released its FY 2011 budget, it included $58.5 billion for International Affairs. This includes $8.8 billion allocated for global health issues. However, the United States’  struggling economy, record budget deficit, and huge debts has led to mounting political pressure to cut spending, including, unfortunately, the International Affairs account which supports global health initiatives and  a number of development programs that life people out of poverty and promote stability worldwide

Fortunately, the community is united! We’ve joined with a coalition of other non-profits, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and others to send a letter to members of the US House of Representatives and Senate, emphasizing the importance of the International Affairs budget in U.S. foreign policy. The full text of the letter is below.

If you’re interested in joining the dialogue, call your congressman to tell them you support U.S. foreign assistance.

Dear Member of Congress:

We the undersigned organizations support the president’s request of $58.5b, as the minimum amount needed for the International Affairs account for FY11. This amount is expected to be 1.4% of total outlays of federal spending in FY11.

Our support is based on factors as varied as our specific missions themselves. But we are united around a common belief that the budget for International Affairs is critical to U.S. foreign policy and our shared future with people and nations around the world.

Sincerely,

  1. Academy for Educational Development
  2. Action Against Hunger
  3. African Diaspora for Change
  4. Aid to Artisans
  5. American Red Cross International Services
  6. American Refugee Committee
  7. Better World Campaign
  8. Bread for the World
  9. CARE
  10. Church World Service
  11. Concern America
  12. Congressional Hunger Center
  13. Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
  14. Episcopal Relief & Development
  15. FACE AIDS
  16. Friends Committee on National Legislation
  17. Friends of the Global Fight
  18. Friends of the World Food Program
  19. Global Campaign for Education
  20. Global Health Council
  21. Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Sabin Vaccine Institute
  22. Helen Keller International
  23. INMED Partnerships for Children
  24. InterAction
  25. International Association of Black Professionals in International Affairs
  26. International Center for Research on Women
  27. International Relief and Development
  28. Joint Aid Management
  29. Lutheran World Relief
  30. Malaria No More
  31. Management Sciences for Health
  32. Mercy Corps
  33. Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network
  34. Mothers Acting Up
  35. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  36. National Education Association
  37. National Association of Evangelicals
  38. National Peace Corps Association
  39. New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
  40. NuVsionPAC
  41. ONE
  42. Outreach Internationa
  43. Oxfam America
  44. Pact
  45. Pathfinder International
  46. Physicians for Human Rights
  47. Plan USA
  48. Plant With Purpose
  49. Population Action International
  50. PSI (Population Services International)
  51. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Washington Office
  52. RESULTS
  53. Save the Children
  54. Sierra Club
  55. Trickle Up
  56. United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
  57. United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
  58. US Fund for UNICEF
  59. White Ribbon Alliance
  60. Women Thrive Worldwide
  61. World Vision
  62. World Wildlife Fund

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Obama Administration, Politics, U.S Government, policy

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Reading List 2/25/10

February 25th, 2010

Today we’re reading about reactions by Doctors Without Borders to the NTD aspects of the Obama Administration’s Global Health Initiative, an article about the difficulties registering new drugs in Africa to fight NTDs, and about an ongoing effort to combat lymphatic filariasis in southern India.

Fighting Deadly Neglected Tropical Diseases: Opportunities to Expand U.S. Impact in Control of NTDs, Doctors Without Borders

White House Called on to Expand Global Health Initiative, Doctors Without Borders

Registering New Drugs: the African context, Paul Chinnock, TropIKA.net

Filariasis Medicines to be Distributed, The Hindu

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Posted in Africa, Global Health, Just 50 Cents, NTDs, Obama Administration, Public Health, U.S Government, grassroots, policy, reading list

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World Orphan Week February 8-14

February 12th, 2010
© UNICEF/ HQ96-1400/ Pirozzi

© UNICEF/ HQ96-1400/ Pirozzi

This week marks the 5th annual World Orphan Week sponsored by SOS Children’s Villages, the world’s largest charity dedicated to the long-term care and prevention of orphaned and abandoned children. 

According to UNICEF, an estimated 143 million children worldwide are orphans due to natural disaster, conflict, disease and poverty and another 100 million abandoned children live on the streets.  SOS Children’s Villages works in 132 countries worldwide providing shelter, emotional support, education and medical care to orphans to ensure that they have a brighter future. 

We are especially mindful of the plight of orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti which were already at about 380,000 prior to the January 12th earthquake, and the long-term consequences this vulnerable population faces.  Poverty and lack of a support system only exacerbate the challenges orphaned and abandoned children face, increasing their susceptibility to prevalent neglected tropical diseases in Haiti.  Now, more than ever, children around the world need our support. 

World Orphan Week sheds light on the issues faced by orphaned and abandoned children worldwide and provides the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of the world’s most vulnerable population.

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Posted in Global Development, Global Health, Haiti, NTDs, Public Health, Water and Sanitation, policy, poverty

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The Global Fight Against Guinea Worm

February 5th, 2010

Surprisingly, modern science has thus far only successfully eradicated one disease—smallpox—but recent developments hint that the world is close to eradicating another devastating infection—Guinea worm. This parasite, which has plagued communities for centuries, causes painful wounds and has the potential to cause disability, infection, and death, but thanks to recent concentrated global efforts, Guinea worm may soon become the first parasitic disease to be eradicated.

 One very encouraging sign came last December when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Uganda had successfully eradicated Guinea worm within its borders. Uganda—which saw its last case of Guinea worm in 2003—joins seven other nations formally certified by the WHO as having eradicated the disease. Even more encouraging is the claim that in 2009 Nigeria experienced zero cases of Guinea worm. This makes Nigeria the 14th of 19 nations previously identified as endemic with the parasite to have recently eliminated the disease within its borders. Should Nigeria continue to be free of Guinea worm for the next several years, it will be WHO certified as having successfully eradicated the disease. Considering that Niger had only 3 cases of Guinea worm in 2009, it’s clear that the campaign to eradicate Guinea worm has been a great success thus far.

 And this success was the result of the combined work of the Carter Center, the United States Center for Disease Control, WHO, and UNICEF, as well as other organizations and individuals. With similar efforts, other parasitic worms, including those in the destructive soil-transmitted helminths family, could be controlled, and perhaps one day eradicated altogether.

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Posted in Africa, Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Public Health, Water and Sanitation, poverty

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Reading List 2/3/10

February 3rd, 2010

Today we’re reading about the fallout from Monday’s unveiling of the fiscal year 2011 budget and various analysis of how it will impact the global health sector and NTDs in particular. We’re also reading about other miscellaneous developments in NTDs and global health.

  1. Obama’s FY 2011 budget gives global health funding boost, Kaiser Family Foundation
    An article breaking down global health spending in the fiscal year 2011 budget.
  2. Aid advocates happy, not thrilled with Obama’s new budget, Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy
  3. Obama’s Global Health Budget a Mixed Bag, Te-Ping Chen, Change.org
    Two different analysis of the global health aspect of the 2011 budget.
  4. Glaxo CEO: Time to diversify, help poor countries, Associated Press
    An interview with the CEO of GlaxoSmithKlein about what the company is doing to help address global health.
  5. Nigeria moves towards eradication of Guinea worm, Azoma Chikwe, Daily Sun
    After decades of work, Nigeria is on the cusp of becoming another deworming success story.
  6. UNICEF And Partners Kick Off Fifth Annual Global Immunization Meeting, Medical News Today
    UNICEF, the WHO, and the GAVI Alliance are meeting in Geneva to analyze and improve immunization efforts globally

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Posted in Africa, Global Health, NTDs, Obama Administration, policy, poverty, reading list

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Reading List 2/2/10

February 2nd, 2010

With the release of Obama’s proposed FY11 budget yesterday and the $155 million allocated to NTDs specifically, we’re reading many different articles about the Administration’s 9% increase in global health funding. We’re also reading about the recent $13 million grant that the Gates Foundation has given to The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to eliminate  elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) and river blindness (onchocerciasis), in the developing world. Lots of exciting things happening for the NTD community!

  1. White House Proposes 9% Increase in Global Health Funding, Betsy McKay, WSJ
  2. Obama Boosts Funding for Tropical Diseases, Maggie Fox, Reuters
  3. Obama Budget Aids War Zones, Global Health Programs (Update1) , Indira A.R. Lakshmanan, Bloomberg
  4. Extra Money for Science in Obama’s Budget, Donald McNeil, New York Times
  5. The President’s Budget: Neglected Tropical Diseases, Erin Hohlfelder, ONE.org Blog
  6. Gates Foundation Commits $13 Million to Eliminate Two Tropical Diseases, Philanthropy News Digest
  7. The Gates Foundation’s expansion of its support, and the thinking that lies behind it, Paul Chinnock, TropIKA.net

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Posted in Africa, Global Development, Global Health, NTDs, Obama Administration, Politics, Public Health, U.S Government, policy, poverty, reading list

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Raj Shah for USAID Head

November 10th, 2009

The Center for Global Development is reporting the news that Dr. Rajiv Shah–currently Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics at USDA and formerly with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation–will be tapped by the Obama Administration to head USAID.  Like most members of the global health and development communities, we have awaited this  decision for months; we’ve been particularly interested to see how the appointee might guide the implementation of the Administration’s Global Health Initiative.

Now, we are anxious to make up for lost time and hear the new leader’s vision for the agency.  We are hopeful that moving forward there will be greater USAID emphasis on country ownership, systems strengthening, cost-effectiveness through better integration and coordination…and of course NTDs.  We’ll stay tuned!

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Posted in Global Health

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Health Affairs Briefing Focuses on NTDs

November 3rd, 2009

The Global Network team just returned from a half-day briefing hosted by the health policy journal Health Affairs, initiated around their November/December 2009 Issue focused on neglected diseases.  The event spurred fascinating dialogue on the current burden of NTDs around the world, control efforts underway, broad partnerships engaged on the issue, and the work ahead.

A wide range of experts presented throughout the morning, including:

  • Philip Musgrove and Peter Hotez, who gave thorough overviews on the current NTD situation and ongoing advocacy, policy, resource mobilization, and control/elimination efforts.  Specifically, they discussed the world’s massive NTD burden, the growing shift toward innovative and flexible regional control strategies, the mobilization of communities to deliver integrated interventions, and the importance of the Obama Administration’s Global Health Initiative and its inclusion of NTDs as a key pillar.
  • Ken Gustavsen, Christy Hanson, Joseph Damond, and Scott Ratzan, who discussed the immense value of public-private partnerships engaged in the field of NTDs.  The drug donation programs of major pharmaceutical companies–Merck, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson–were highlighted, as were their commitments to innovation, scalability, and sustainability.  USAID’s NTD program was also detailed, including their commitment to building on existing health platforms and to working with affected communities.
  • Peter Singer and James Geraghty, who discussed what else needs to be done for these diseases.  Singer outlined a new “global acceleration plan” to support developing world pipelines for innovation–a potential “goldmine” for new NTD technologies.  Geraghty advocated for expanding the biotech industry’s involvement in fighting neglected diseases but also working to improve incentives–through mechanisms such as tax credit legislation advocated for by Genzyme–for companies to do so.
Dr. Peter Hotez presents at the Health Affairs Briefing

Dr. Peter Hotez presents at the Health Affairs Briefing

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Posted in Global Health, NTDs

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