Over the last two years, a public health crisis has been at the forefront of our news. However, other health emergencies continue to receive very little or no attention at all. More than one billion people globally are affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), a grouping of diseases which is made up of 20 different conditions, some more known such as Dengue or Rabies, and some much less known. In most cases, these diseases occur in tropical areas and therefore often in lower and middle income countries, and they disproportionately affect women and children. NTDs rarely receive as much attention when it comes to global health policies or funding in comparison to, for example, HIV or Malaria. And the consequences of this neglect have been devastating on a health, social and economic level.

Today's episode of The Africa Roundtable explores:

• Has the COVID-19-pandemic been helpful for highlighting health challenges in the Global South? Has there been a donor fatigue when it comes to funding?
• How can the relationship between African and European nations be described when it comes to pharmaceutical research and specifically to NTDs?
• What are the biggest challenges in researching affordable remedies? And is there a more appropriate way to deliver affordable medicine?

Dr. Borna Nyaoke Anoke is a Kenyan physician and a senior project manager for clinical trials related to NTDs at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative.  Additionally, she works on COVID-19 and antibiotic research. She was named in Business Daily's Africa Top 40 Under 40 Women is a renowned public health expert and founder of the Hema Foundation, a Nairobi based NGO working on physical and mental health for marginalized groups and environmental health. She holds multiple degrees from the University of Nairobi, the University of Liverpool and the Harvard School of Medicine.

https://globalperspectives.org/en/