This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
DFID announces extra £200m to fight neglected tropical diseases
The Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a £200 million investment into programmes to fight neglected tropical diseases.
The programmes will target conditions such as river blindness, guinea-worm and trachoma, which can disable children and stop adults working. The funding will go towards the distribution of tablets to treat diseases and research into new drugs.
The DFID confirmed the aim of the ongoing investment is to ultimately eliminate neglected tropical diseases permanently. The announcement comes ahead of a World Health Organisation conference in Geneva dedicated to neglected tropical diseases and their eradication.
Tropical diseases which will be targeted under the investment include: visceral leishmaniasis - a parasitic disease, caused by infected sand flies, which destroys the internal organs; guinea-worm disease - an infection transmitted through dirty drinking water containing water fleas; trachoma - infection from poor hygiene practices which can cause blindness; and lymphatic filariasis - infection transmitted by mosquitoes which can cause swelling of lower limbs.
Priti Patel, International Development Secretary, said: “These diseases belong to the last century. They cause unimaginable suffering and pain to some of the world’s poorest people, forcing them into a deeper cycle of poverty with no way out. Yet they are treatable.
“The UK’s support will protect over 200 million people from a future blighted by tropical disease and represents a huge leap towards ending this scourge.
“Through our commitment, through our leading NGOs and pharma companies, through our world-class universities and researchers, Global Britain will continue to play a leading role in this fight. These diseases have been named ‘neglected’ for a reason, but I’m not prepared for them to be neglected any longer.”
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