05 March 2007

A Quick Strike Against Disease

The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Disease Control is an alliance of the major public-private partnerships devoted to the control of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) worldwide. The Global Network is advancing a plan to control these diseases through the integrated administration of the “rapid- impact package,” so named because the drugs can be quickly deployed with rapid reductions in morbidity and disability, improvement in well-being, and, in some cases, interruption of transmission. The package is comprised of a combination of up to four drugs, all of which have been in use, tested, deployed and utilized by millions for more than a decade. Combining these drugs in an integrated health care package is a new approach that deemphasizes specific tropical diseases and, instead, focuses on neglected populations with multiple tropical infections. Worldwide, there are a total of 56 countries with five or more endemic NTDs. Most of these are in sub-Saharan Africa where the rapid-impact package will be deployed extensively.

This packaging approach has been successful with early childhood vaccines. By packaging a combination of vaccines and inoculating infants against different diseases at the same time, the costs are diminished and the benefits are enhanced.

Identification of the first countries to be included in the Global Network’s rapid-impact treatment scheme is currently underway.

The Global Network is based in Washington, D.C.

From the March 2007 eJournal USA, “Lifesaving Vaccines”