FAQs
Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Frequently Asked Questions
Please find the answers to frequently asked questions about the Global Network below. If you have additional questions, please contact us [link to contact info]. If you are a member of the media, please contact our communications team.
What is Global Network?
The Global Network is major advocacy initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, working in partnership with international agencies, scientists and advocates dedicated to raising the awareness, political will, and funding necessary to control and eliminate the seven most common disabling, disfiguring, and deadly NTDs.
What are neglected tropical diseases?
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of 19 parasitic and bacterial infections that affect over 1.4 billion people, most of whom live on less than $1.25 per day. NTDs stigmatize, disable, and inhibit individuals from being able to care for themselves or their families—all of which promote poverty.
The Global Network is focused on fighting the seven most common of these diseases.
What are the seven diseases Global Network focuses on?
Currently, we focus on treatment and prevention for ascariasis (roundworm), trichuriasis (whipworm), hookworm, schistosomiasis (snail fever), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), trachoma, and onchocerciasis (river blindness).
Why does the Global Network focus on these seven diseases?
These are the seven most common NTDs that represent 90 percent of the global burden of all NTDs and affect more than one billion people, and especially women and children. By eliminating the endemic nature of these seven NTDs, children will be healthy enough to go to school and absorb their lessons and parents will be well enough to work and care for their families. Ending these seven NTDs would free a generation to lift themselves out of poverty.
How much does NTD treatment cost?
For just 50 cents a person, we can protect someone for a full year from NTDs.
What does the money I donate to the Global Network go to?
At least $0.80 of every $1 donated to the Global Network is spent directly on treating and preventing NTD infections. Because pharmaceutical companies donate most of the medicines required, your money primarily pays for the cost of transporting and delivering the medicines to the communities in need, training of local healthcare workers to distribute the medicine, and hygiene education for communities to help them avoid re-infection. Individuals with certain NTDs – particularly lymphatic filariasis and trachoma – may need surgery to correct help them overcome their infection, so donations may support those activities, too.
How many people are affected by NTDs?
NTDs infect more than one billion people globally-- causing blindness, huge swelling in appendages and limbs, severe malnutrition and anemia as well prevent women from having successful pregnancies, keep children from attending school and keep adults from working.
What is the END7 Campaign?
END7 is a global advocacy campaign run by the Global Network to raise awareness of the seven most common NTDs and cultivate the resources necessary to end them by 2020. We also provide the opportunity for supporters to help people in need directly -- by donating just 50 cents, you can help protect one person for a full year from the seven most common NTDs.
Why is the goal 2020? Can we really end 7 NTDs by 2020?
2020 is the year the global health community, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has identified as being an aggressive, attainable target to eliminate the endemic nature of the seven most common NTDs. It is realistic because the medicines exists and are inexpensive; we must only deliver them to the communities in need.
How is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation involved with the Global Network?
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided a grant to the Global Network for NTDs to raise the profile of NTDs among the general public, key influencers and decision makers.
Is it realistic to end the seven most common NTDs by 2020?
Yes, it is a big goal, but it is one that we can reach. Unlike other massive global health challenges, NTDs have a simple, inexpensive solution: a packet of pills that costs just 50 cents protects a person from the seven most common NTDs for a full year. And because large pharmaceutical companies donate nearly all of the medicine, we must only pay for the costs of transporting the medicines and training local health care workers to distribute the medicines.
Does this take resources away from treating AIDS, malaria and other global health issues?
Definitely not. We can and must treat these global health challenges at the same time. In fact, treating such illnesses simultaneously reduces treatment costs and disease transmission rates.
Where can I find out more information?
You can explore our full web site to find more information on the Global Network and the seven most common NTDs, as well as gain access to our infographic animations, videos, pictures, recent blog posts and press coverage. You also visit some of our partner sites to find out more information.
