Leprosy elimination among ten targets
Tuesday January 31st, 2012
A global push to tackle ten "neglected" tropical diseases, including leprosy, was promised yesterday as wealthy donors pledged millions to back it.
Pharmaceutical
companies have promised to donate on average 1.4 billion treatments annually
as new drugs are developed.
The World Bank and the governments of the USA, UK and the UAE are backing the campaign.
And there was an immediate donation of 363 million dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
World Health Organisation director-general Dr Margaret Chan said: "These ancient diseases are now being brought to their knees with stunning speed.
"With the boost to this momentum being made today, I am confident almost all of these diseases can be eliminated or controlled by the end of this decade."
The campaigners say one disease, Guinea worm can be eradicated.
And they believed that by 2020 four other diseases could be gone: lymphatic filariasis, blinding trachoma, sleeping sickness and leprosy.
And they want get "control" of five other diseases: soil-transmitted helminthes, schistosomiasis, river blindness, Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis.
Dr Alexandre Manguele, minister of health of Mozambique, said: "With the resources pledged today in the context of this partnership the government of Mozambique feels ever more assured that the mission can be accomplished."
Tags: Africa | World Health
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