Lecture 4 - International Health (NTDs) Flashcards
What are the scourges of Africa?
Number of infectious and parasitic diseases
How many people do NTDs affect?
Many millions of people
Why are they called Neglected tropical diseases?
Cause much disability and suffering without causing enough deaths to be considered acute like malaria/HIV
Because affect the poor they tend to be neglected and untreated
What kind of diseases are included in NTDs?
Worms, schistosomiasis, river blindness, elephatiasis, leprosy, trachoma and sleeping sickness
What strategies are used to deal with NTDs?
Some (leprosy/sleeping sickness)= diagnosis and treatment; Others= 4 drugs which are used as annual mass treatment usually given in pairs 6m apart
What are the 4 drugs used to reduce morbidity of NTDs?
Mectizan, Albendazole, Zithromax, Praziquantel
What should the 4 drugs for NTDs do over time?
Eliminate morbidity but not the infections
How are the NTDs drugs distributed?
They are donated as part of pharma industries humanitarian donation scheme BUT condition is that countries need to identify source of funds required for mapping, health ed, training, distribution, monitoring and evaluation
How much is being spent per year to deliver these drugs?
50p per person, but due to such large numbers, around £250 million per year which can stretch resources in poor countries
Why have NTDs been tackled?
When the Millenium Development Goals were announced, treating NTDs would accomplish 6/8 MDGs so Global health partnerships which specialise in disease control programmes and the pharma industry came together to try and combat these diseases using an integrated strategy
