July 12, 2010
In a new op-ed published by the Ottawa Citizen today, Sabin President Dr. Peter Hotez urges the world's nuclear weapons states--where high rates of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and roughly one-third of the world's parasitic worm infections occur--to "redirect scientists who work in poor countries to peacetime pursuits."
"Most North Americans and Russians are unaware that, 50 years ago, nations on both sides of the Cold War co-operated on a back channel scientific research and development effort that led to the joint development of the oral polio vaccine. Today that vaccine has become the major instrument for global polio eradication efforts.
The fact that the U.S. and Soviet Union could put aside their ideological differences shortly after the Sputnik launch at the height of the Cold War for purposes of scientific co-operation and vaccine development, suggests that India, Pakistan, and China, not to mention Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, and Syria, could do the same for neglected tropical disease vaccines."
Continue reading "Vaccines over missiles" here.
April 27, 2010
For a tiny fraction of the cost of maintaining a nuclear arsenal, the 11 nuclear power states (United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, and possibly Syria) could eliminate neglected infections within their borders—which account for up to 50% of the global disease burden—and beyond, says a new editorial published April 27 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
March 18, 2010
Through his proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget, President Barack Obama has taken a strong and positive stance in support of global efforts to eliminate the tremendous human suffering caused by infectious and neglected tropical diseases.
The FY 2011 budget proposes $155 million to “deliver treatments for seven of the highly prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through targeted mass drug administration and training of community-based and professional health care workers,” while $700 million has been designated for maternal and child health programs which place “prevention and treatment of diarrhea, pneumonia and newborn infections” as priority intervention areas.
The Sabin Vaccine Institute applauds the Obama administration’s commitment to fight and prevent these preventable and treatable diseases and also recognizes the tremendous strides that can be made beyond a reduction in mortality and disease burden rates.
2009
by Peter J. Hotez
September 24, 2009
The Sabin Vaccine Institute was honored to be featured twice at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative. On Wednesday, September 23, President Clinton announced
that the Global Network joined the Inter-American Development Bank in announcing their commitment to mobilize $30 million from the public and private sectors to raise awareness and funds in support of NTD control and elimination in the Americas, supported by technical assistance from the Pan American Health Organization.
15 April 2009
Kari Stoever of Sabin Vaccine Institute/Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases will be a featured speaker at a breakfast sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Group of Institutes, Foundations and Enterprises (GIFE), Schwab Foundation, and Synergos Institute in conjunction with the World Economic Forum on Latin American being held from April 14th to April 16th, 2009.
March 24, 2009
USA Today
This Scientist's Passion: Ending the Scourge of Parasitic Diseases
March 23, 2009
Neglected tropical diseases threaten millions throughout the developing world each year, but for just 50 cents, you can help fund a rapid-impact package of medications to treat the seven most common NTDs. Watch the video to learn more and find out how you change the world – through just 50 cents. Donate now!
Lymphatic Filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, affects more than 120 million people in 80 countries worldwide, and is an extremely painful, debilitating and disfiguring disease.
2008
The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent some of the most common infections of the poorest people living in the Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC). Because they primarily afflict the disenfranchised poor as well as selected indigenous populations and people of African descent, the NTDs in LAC are largely forgotten diseases even though their collective disease burden may exceed better known conditions such as of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, or malaria.