UK commits £360m to help treat tropical diseases in poor countries
Written by News on 16/04/2017
The UK is taking steps to protect more than two hundred million people, in some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities, from the pain and disfigurement caused by treatable tropical diseases.
Ailments such as Trachoma, Guinea worm, and Visceral Leishmaniasis are avoidable infections which can deform, disable, blind and even kill if left untreated.
They prevent children going to school and adults going to work – costing developing economies billions of pounds every year in lost productivity.
The Government’s International Development Secretary Priti Patel said: "These diseases belong to the last century.
"They cause unimaginable suffering and pain to some of the world’s poorest people, forcing them into a deeper cycle of poverty with no way out. Yet they are treatable.
"The UK’s support will protect over 200 million people from a future blighted by tropical disease and represents a huge leap towards ending this scourge.
"These diseases have been named ‘neglected’ for a reason, but I’m not prepared for them to be neglected any longer."
Researchers at London’s Natural History Museum are heavily involved in the initiative.
Schistosomiasis expert Dr Anouk Gouvras told Sky News: "They are actually treatable. There are drugs you can give people to help them clear the worm infections, but it’s just making sure that people have access to these drugs that’s quite important .
"Another thing is that after you have cured someone, they can easily get reinfected, so in fact you have to regularly treat to stop the disease developing "
Over the next four years, the UK will more than double its financial support for the initiative, committing £360m.
(c) Sky News 2017: UK commits £360m to help treat tropical diseases in poor countries
