Most of the neglected diseases are caused by parasites that thrive in impoverished settings, where water supply, sanitation, and housing are poor. Apart from this strong link to poverty, the diseases form a group because they permanently deform and disable large numbers of poor people, trapping them in poverty.
Worldwide, an estimated one billion people – one sixth of the world’s population – are affected by one or more of these diseases. Recent evidence of their severe impact on socioeconomic development has spurred unprecedented commitment to reduce this burden. Control of these diseases is now considered part of the global drive to reduce poverty.
“This event marks a turning point in the long and notorious history of some of humanity’s oldest diseases, †the WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, said in her opening address. “The burden imposed by these diseases, measured in terms of human misery alone, is unacceptable. We are committed to take action.â€
Most of these diseases were once present across a wide area, but gradually disappeared as standards of living and hygiene improved. The availability of safe and effective drugs in large quantities makes it possible, for the first time in history, to take immediate action against these diseases, without having to wait for gradual improvements.
The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, told the meeting, “I would like to emphasise that all these diseases are not neglected, in any way, by the developing countries … We, in Tanzania, for example have recognised, since the dawn of independence, that health status and health service delivery are the core of socio-economic development. We have waged a protacted war against all diseases, which are regarded as a hinderance to development, alongside poverty and ignorance.”
As these diseases affect large numbers of very poor people, the decision by industry to supply drugs for prevention or treatment at low or no cost has also been decisive in turning the tide.
During the meeting on Thursday, Dr Chan and Merck KGaA’s Executive Board Member, Mr Elmar Schnee, signed an agreement aimed at fighting schistosomiasis.
A donation of 200 million tablets of the drug praziquantel will be given to WHO, with an estimated market value of US$80 million. The agreement could potentially protect millions of children from schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm disease which affects about 180 million people, most of them children in
“This disease is one of the biggest health risks to African children after malaria and this collaboration ensures the chance of a healthy life in countries marked by diseases of poverty,” said Mr Elmar Schnee of Merck KGaA.Â
Cost-effective tools to eliminate several of the neglected tropical diseases exist, some costing as little as 50
With this Preventive Chemotherapy (PCT) Strategy, a combination of three vital drugs is used to prevent and control a range of parasitic worm diseases all at one time. WHO had secured access to two drugs crucial to the PCT strategy, albendazole and ivermectin. With the agreement signed today, WHO has also secured praziquantel, the drug long considered to be the strategy’s “missing link”.Â
Substantial progress has already been made in the fight to control and eliminate many neglected tropical diseases: the number of leprosy cases has decreased from 5.2 million in 1985 to less than 220 000 cases today; 14.5 million people have been cured of this disease. Guinea worm disease is set for eradication. Previously, only one disease – smallpox – has ever been eradicated.
This agreement with Merck is the latest in a series of collaborations with the private sector to support the control and possible elimination of the various neglected tropical diseases. A list of other collaborative projects is attached.
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The meeting this week will set out the next steps required to provide prevention and treatment of the neglected tropical diseases to all who need them and to work towards their elimination.
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List of donated medicines from other partners
DONATIONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â DISEASE
Albendazole from GlaxoSmithKline       For Lymphatic Filariasis only (not for soil-transmitted helminthiasis)Â
Eflornithine from Sanofi-Aventis       Human African Trypanosomiasis Â
Ivermectin from Merck & Co Inc. Directly to countries for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis     Â
Multi-Drug Therapy from Novartis       Leprosy
Mebendazole    Onchocerciasis (50 million doses in 2007 from Mectizan Donation Programme)    Â
Melarsoprol from Sanofi-Aventis Human African Trypanosomiasis Â
Nifurtimox from Bayer HC       Human African Trypanosomiasis (clinical trial only) and for treatment of Chagas disease       Â
Pentamidine from Sanofi-Aventis Human African Trypanosomiasis Â
Suramine from Bayer    Human African Trypanosomiasis Â
Contacts:
Tiffany Domingo, WHO,
All WHO News Releases, Fact Sheets and Features can be obtained on the WHO web site: www.who.int
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