Blog #6 Haiti Fighting Against Lymphatic Filariasis 10/5/12

        Officials in Haiti are desperately trying to find a way to cure an infection that in present in 80% of its population. Lymphatic Filariasis is an infection that is spread by mosquitoes that can develop into the more well-known condition of elephantiasis. This infection can cause extreme swelling in limbs that can eventually be life threatening. Currently, officials in Haiti are administering drugs in elementary schools where it is easy to administer to a large amount of people because they are in a confined area. Haiti’s goal, however, is to treat the entire 10 million population. This idea is so daunting because the infection is known as a “neglected tropical disease”. The global health community does not acknowledge this health problem in Haiti because it is “overshadowed by higher-profile campaigns”.  484 million people in 2010 took drugs against Lymphatic Filariasis.

        With this many people being exposed to and harmed by this infection; it seems more efforts would be made worldwide to fight against it. As stated in the article, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are high profile health disasters in the world. Most all of the attention by doctors to help flight world health problems is directed at these high profile campaigns. This neglect of Haiti’s health is shocking. 80% of a countries population is in danger from this infection and it constantly gets overlooked by perfectly able doctors and organizations that are designated to help struggling countries. These neglected tropical diseases can usually be cured at the beginning stages of infection, but Haiti does not have the resources for this. The Obama administration does give a significant amount of money towards neglected tropical diseases, however, there is many diseases that get overlooked that need more attention than is given. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/haiti-takes-on-dreaded-disease-elephantiasis-one-mouth-at-a-time/2012/09/30/53c5e5b0-afef-11e1-80eb-46875d0c7789_story.html