Miatta Kargbo, Minister of Health
Sierra Leone has made "astonishing progress" in tackling tropical diseases that leave 1.4 billion people globally in chronic and debilitating pain, says a new report by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the UK’s leading development think-tank.
The country has made great strides in preventing diseases including schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm which can lead to death through liver disease and bladder cancer. While just 562,000 people were treated against the disease in 2009, by 2012 this figure had rocketed to 1.4 million people, equal to 99% of the population needing treatment.
The report, released today says these results far outstrip Nigeria where just 5% of the population was treated for schistosomiasis in 2012.
The success was down to massive community mobilisation – 29,000 volunteers from villages, as well as tens of millions of dollars – worth of free drug donations from pharmaceutical companies.
"Government commitment, international support from aid donors – and historic links back one of the UK’s leading medicine schools dating from the 1800s were also key factors" a statement from ODI says.
“Sierra Leone’s achievements mean a child born today is far less likely to be disabled by these diseases. These common illnesses are still a defining factor in the current cycle of poverty, ill health and under-development in too many African countries” says ODI research fellow, Fiona Samuels.
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are 17 diseases found among the poorest people in 149 countries including China, and even the United States. Around 500 million people in Africa are affected by these diseases and, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO, around half a million people annually are killed by NTDs.
Sierra Leone has now controlled four of the five diseases that account for 90% of global NTDs. The report No longer neglected: tackling Sierra Leone’s neglected tropical diseases), from ODI’s Development Progress programme, says that Sierra Leone’s experience offers important lessons to other countries engaged in the fight against NTDs.
Even though it takes just 50 US cents (30 pence) to treat and protect one person against the seven most common NTDs for a year, these diseases are prevalent in all but seven of Africa’s 55 countries. While NTDs have long been a neglected area of public health, in recent years, the diseases have become a growing priority, particularly following the 2012 London Declaration within which the UN, WHO and pharmaceuticals committed to reducing the NTD burden by 2020.
(C) Politico Online 05/06/14
