INDUSTRY TALK
Global citizens advocate
for better healthcare in Africa
African and European governments and global philanthropists have promised to contribute more than US$150 million to tackle the spread of neglected tropical diseases. This and other high value commitments to the tune of millions of dollars were announced at the recent Global Citizen festival in South Africa.
W
hile HIV/Aids, cholera
water, sanitation and hygiene were
and malaria are well
announced at the Global Citizen
known diseases affecting
Festival: Mandela 100 on
impoverished communities,
2 December.
neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are
Precious Mukelabai travelled outside of her home country for the first time to speak about blinding trachoma surgery at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100
The star-studded event
largely unknown yet equally life threatening.
took place in Johannesburg,
In fact, NTDs affect about 1.5 billion people
South Africa, to celebrate the
in developing nations.
centenary of Nelson Mandela
The US$150 million donation will unlock
– a global icon who believed
a total aid package worth so much more
everyone should live in a way
than the amount bestowed, thanks to the
that respects and enhances the
medicines donated by various pharma
freedom of others. The event
companies. For every dollar donated for
brought together heads of state,
the distribution of medicines, US$26 worth of
dignitaries, top international
pharmaceuticals will be leveraged, making
musicians, influencers and
this the largest public/private partnership in
citizens from all over the globe to share
global healthcare.
ideas on how to solve some of the world’s
BLINDING TRACHOMA THRIVES IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS LIMITED OR NO CLEAN RUNNING WATER
and a half billion are still in need of help. A community health worker from
problems. The festival host was comedian
Zambia, Precious Mukelabai, announced
Trevor Noah, who is also an activist.
that Sir Richard Branson and a group of
STOPPING TRACHOMA IN ITS TRACKS
distinguished donors from the Audacious Project had collectively committed to donating US$105 million to Sightsavers.
NTDs such as blinding trachoma, river
The international organisation prevents
blindness and intestinal worms affect
avoidable blindness in some of the world’s
people living in extreme poverty, in
poorest areas by treating and stopping
underdeveloped, rural areas. These diseases
trachoma. Its goal to eliminate trachoma
prevent children from going to school and
has become more attainable than ever – in
can rob adults of the most productive years
June 2018, Ghana became the first country
NTDs; commitments to intensify the fight
of their lives, though great progress has
in sub-Saharan Africa to banish the disease
against HIV/Aids; donations to help further
been made to reduce their prevalence.
for good.
education and empower girls and women;
Thanks to treatment, half a billion people no
as well as increase access to
longer need interventions for NTDs. But one
The contribution of funds towards
Of the total commitments announced at the festival, over US$105 million will be used to tackle blinding trachoma and infant mortality. Blinding trachoma thrives in areas where there is limited or no clean running
Children from Kuntanase Presbyterian School are given tablets to control intestinal worms (soil-transmitted helminths) and bilharzia (schistosomiasis)
water and poor sanitation. If left untreated, trachoma can lead to irreversible blindness. In addition to the funding for NTDs, over US$7 billion was pledged to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITMENT The prime minister of Mozambique, Carlos Agostinho do Rosário announced a significant contribution from the government in Maputo, committing US$6 million to combat several NTDs. The prime minister
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| QUARTER 4 2018 | P C Africa