The Threat of Neglected Tropical Diseases

You've probably never heard of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), even though they are the most common afflictions of the world's poorest people -- more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. In all my travels to developing nations during 10 years of humanitarian efforts, I had not heard of them either. And that was shocking to me. How was it possible that diseases that make life miserable for one out of every six people on earth had gone virtually unnoticed?

I learned about NTDs when I heard Dr. Peter Hotez speak at least year's Clinton Global Initiative and I felt compelled to help raise awareness of this injustice. In the past year, we have made tremendous progress in educating people about the impact of NTDs on the developing world -- but the fact of the matter is that most people still don't know what they are.

These diseases are rightfully called "neglected" because the lives they destroy are those of "the poorest of the poor" -- one billion men, women and children who have no power, who have no voice. Diseases like river blindness, that's caused by black flies that bite their victims near the eyes and leave behind parasitic worms to destroy sight. And snail fever, which you get by simply bathing or washing in a stream, and which causes severe liver or kidney damage. And elephantiasis, so named because it leads to unspeakable deformities, like swelling of the legs to elephant-sized proportions, making even walking impossible. Beyond health, NTDs contribute to an ongoing cycle of poverty and stigma that leaves tens of millions unable to work, go to school or participate in family and community life. This cycle of poverty goes on and on, from generation to generation, trapping individuals, families and even entire communities in hopeless misery and despair.

But now, all this is finally changing... I am incredibly proud to join President Clinton and a number of political leaders, celebrities, athletes and global health experts in leading a call to action to stop NTDs now. On September 27, President Clinton focused the world's attention on NTDs by helping inaugurate a bold, new campaign to mobilize $25 million to control and prevent NTDs. It's the Sabin Vaccine Institute's STOP NTDs Campaign. Through STOP NTDs, we are asking people to sign an online petition calling on the U.S. Congress to create an NTD Day in 2008, and to increase funding for NTD control.

The good news -- no, the great news -- is that NTD control is, as Senator Ted Kennedy best describes it, "one of the best buys in public health." You can control and potentially eliminate the seven most common NTDs for just 50 cents per person, per year -- the average cost of parking your car at a meter for one hour, and a fraction of the cost of antiviral treatment for HIV/AIDS and mult-idrug therapy for tuberculosis.

Jackie Chan, Dikembe Mutombo, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Senator Kennedy and I are among the many people who are strongly supporting the STOP NTDs Campaign. Now, it's your turn to take action. Log on to www.stopntds.org, watch the campaign video and sign the online petition and, if you can, make a tax-deductible donation. Remember, just $25 will protect 50 people for an entire year.

Together, we can help lift the world's most neglected people out of poverty and disease.

So please join me today in the fight against NTDs.

Comments

[Karlita]

Alyssa,

I'm thrilled to see you blogging here. I've loved you on Charmed all these years, and HuffPO is like my second home. (Let's hope my employer never trolls through my net history :)

I'm not really into the celebrity worship that is so prevalent these days, but I love it when a celeb sees that the best use of their fame is to help others. Angelina Jolie is another example and I'm glad you have the heart to get involved.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed with all the problems in the world especially when our own government officials are most concerned with their own coffers. But if $25 can really help 50 people a year, then that's a cause I will check out.

P.S. If you talk to the Blue Flamer, tell him it was nice to see him on CSI.

Peace,

[Balzac]

Where is the World Health Organization?

So many people can be saved by so little effort, the lack of willingness to save these people must be considered a passive-aggressive bio-warfare campaign against the poor.

Once Bush is behind bars we'll have a tremendous budget for this. I'd love to donate but I don't have any savings.

My political aggression against Bush is my contribution to this and every other socially-responsible campaign.

[bleek]

When I see you on TV, I lose my concentration and can't comprehend what you're saying. But this was really well stated.

NTDs are like little microscopic WMDs, almost. I'm leaving for the tropics, now.

[Tom Gerosolina]

Sorry we can help our idiot president is too busy making money for his friends to help. You see we have a war going on and we need the money that we should be giving to you killing people. I apologies for my country for not helping; I have a political movement that is working at getting back humanity to American Foreign Policy.

Tom Gerosolina

[JulieSA]

The US's spending on both AIDS and malaria in Africa has been vastly increased by President Bush. (And no, it's not abstinence-only--the spending pays for condoms, drugs,and education.)You can hate Bush all you want, and that's fine, but if you think he is against spending for African health problems, you are severely misinformed. He's doing far more than any of his predecessors did.

Thanks for raising awareness of the NTD issue, Alyssa. I will make a donation.

[JulieSA]

The US's spending on both AIDS and malaria in Africa has been vastly increased by President Bush. (And no, it's not abstinence-only--the spending pays for condoms, drugs,and education.)You can hate Bush all you want, and that's fine, but if you think he is against spending for African health problems, you are severely misinformed.

Thanks for raising awareness of the NTD issue, Alyssa. I will make a donation.

[GPC]

Great post. We need to help the underprivilaged. I am a Rotarian, one of our main goals is to eliminate polio. Unfortunately because of our current administrations crusade against the Muslims. Many people in poor Muslim areas do not want to take our vaccines because they believe it is all a campaign to sterilize the children.We have seen a rise in cases the past 6 years in these areas. Until we can get a government that is hell bent on humanitarian effots instead of hell bent on ruling the world we will always fall short of completeing these goals

[wm1066]

The ancient Egyptians wore kohl (I think it was called kohl) around thier eyes not as a fashion statement but as a way to keep the bugs from getting at thier eyes. The bugs didn't like the kohl.

[Bateman]

I have studied the state of human health in Africa and have done fieldwork there. Thank you, Alyssa Milano, for bringing attention to these devastating diseases, including parasitic worms. These parasitic diseases are usually give far less attention than they deserve because they do not result in death in the short term but rather debilitation and impaired learning, work, and functioning in multiple areas of life.

Their economic and social impact is enormous, a major reason for economic stagnation in some parts of the world. It is imperative to eradicate these parasites or at least prevent them from infecting the human population.

We sometimes forget that a century ago many people in the southeastern United States suffered from hookworm until the sanitary infrastructure was improved. If it can eliminated here, why not in other parts of the world as well?

And shame on those in the Comments section using this issue to promote conspiracy theories or some other pet cause. Eliminating NTDs is a cause that all reasonable people, whatever their political affiliation, should be able to get behind.

[solid]

"And shame on those in the Comments section using this issue to promote conspiracy theories or some other pet cause."
===============================
I don't see any conspiracy theories. All I see are people pointing out the FACT that there are enormous segments of the global population, lead by the self absorbed U.S. of which I am a member, who lack the compassion and generosity to give two shits about NTDs or any other macro affliction.

Thank you Alyssa, for bringing NTDs to my attention. Keep doing the good work, and hanging out with the right people.

[Magnulus]

We have NTD's of sorts in the US. Every year a few kids die in Florida from amoebas that get in through their nose and eat their brain. It occurs most often in the hot summer months in lakes and ponds.

I've been aware of NTD's for quite some time. IF you watch the nature/science shows on cable/satellite, you learn all about them. Dengue fever, all kinds of parasites that destroy your organs, etc.

[Paul]

The Carter Institute has tackled some of these diseases.

Most of them are not a threat the the US because they require a tropical environment for the parasites, etc to exist. Also because many Africans do not have access to clean drinking water, and this is the core problem. If you have to drink swamp water, you are going to get tropical diseases.

The real problem is that these diseases respond to readily available anti-biotics and other routine treatment, but there is not enough money available in the countries where the diseases are most often found.

American pharmaceutical companies spend big R&D money on over-the-counter cold remedies for the US market when these resources could be better used for basic public health projects in developing countries. But they must answer to their shareholders and not to their conscience.

This inequality of treatment is what free-market capitalism as applied to public health produces.

[PerryWhite]

Then can't we just let Cuba and North Korea help these people?

[MaciasJ]

This place really needs a "Flag as a ridiculously stupid" button.

[vippy]

Not only that we sell them weapons but we also
send them de-germinated grains so they have to buy more and are not able to plant it themselves. I guess a by-product of capitalism.

[mrcontinental]

Yes. Eventually and handful of companies will control the worlds food supply.

[FirstShirt]

Alyssa. I'm a huge fan and appreciate you using your position for good. I didn't know about NTD's and now I do. That is a good days work for you. thanks.

[rodeman]

Alyssa
Thank you for bringing the issue of NTD's to our attention. As you indicated on your blog, I for one was completely ignorant on the subject.

Kudos to you for enlightening me, and using your celebrity status in such a positive way. I went to the web site and signed the petition.

[Twocentsworth245]

Alyssa,
You're right. I HADN'T heard of NTDs (and I'm sure many other Americans hadn't, either) until I read your HuffPost piece. Thank you for bringing this issue to a broader awareness in this country.
I gladly went to the website you mentioned and signed the petition. It just nauseates me whenever I hear about how many billions of dollars we're wasting on an immoral, unjust war, when that same money could be put to much better use to SAVE lives rather than TAKE lives.

[hootie1fan]

The operative word here is poor.

[Mariel]

We have great health problems in this country, and if we were not wasting money we could address them, not to speak of overseas problems. Yes, the overseas problems can become our problems quickly, due to travel. But even without travel we have unaddressed health problems right here. Even diseases which are not being studied and not being addressed--right here in the USA. I have one a rare genetic disease which is rarely diagnosed due to doctor ignorance, and methods to help it are not emerging--there is SOME progress in Europe.

[Kirby]

Once again, we are reminded of what our billions spent in the entire Middle East could be doing in alleviating the misery caused by various diseases.
The diseased minds of the neocons have wrought this New American Century in which we kill for our erstwhile so-called ally.