Summary

This lecture discusses the importance of indigenous knowledge in maintaining local ecologies and preserving traditional healing practices. It also explores the issue of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and their impact on vulnerable populations in low-resource regions. The lecture highlights the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental factors in understanding global health challenges.

Full Transcript

Importance of Indigenous Knowledge Environmental knowledge: ▪ Deep understanding of the land and its history also important in maintaining local ecologies (with implica8ons for human health) Health knowledge: ▪ Forced entry into a biomedical model can shi? perspec8ves and lead certain condi8ons to b...

Importance of Indigenous Knowledge Environmental knowledge: ▪ Deep understanding of the land and its history also important in maintaining local ecologies (with implica8ons for human health) Health knowledge: ▪ Forced entry into a biomedical model can shi? perspec8ves and lead certain condi8ons to be pathologized through medicaliza8on ▪ Addi8onally, loss of tradi8onal healing prac8ces combined with limited access to biomedical clinics can lead to worse health outcomes NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES (NTDs) Key Ques7ons What is an NTD? ▪ What types of NTDs are recognized? ▪ What social factors shape NTD infec8on paHerns? ▪ How can NTDs be controlled? ▪ Why do control measures fail? What is a Neglected Tropical Disease? Parasi8c, bacterial, and viral diseases that are chronic and debilita8ng, promo8ng poverty among those infected ▪ Neglected because: ▪ Never existed or have been eliminated in wealthy regions ▪ Affect primarily the poorest, most marginalized areas ▪ Receive rela8vely low levels of research aHen8on and funding ▪ May impair physical and cogni8ve func8on, and result in subop8mal growth and development paHerns, which nega8vely impacts day to day life and affects longterm health outcomes (few die, but life long implica8ons) Economic Costs Na8ons experiencing the highest rates of parasi8c disease lack the resources to effec8vely study and treat these illnesses ▪ Vicious cycle - financial costs and long-term physical consequences of parasi8c infec8on may contribute to exis8ng structural health and wealth inequi8es ▪ Increased research investment by the medical community is needed, to address health dispari8es and supported con8nued livelihoods NTD Determinants Neglected because receive rela8vely liHle medical and health aHen8on or funding, tend to affect people living in low-resource regions ▪ O?en associated with lack of access to underlying health determinants, including clean water, effec8ve sanita8on, nutri8ous/safe food, adequate healthcare, etc NTD Facts ▪ 100% of low-income countries are impacted by at least five NTDs simultaneously ▪ Worldwide, 149 countries and territories are affected by at least one NTD ▪ Neglected tropical diseases kill an es8mated 534,000 people worldwide every year ▪ NTDs are a major cause of disease burden, resul8ng in approximately 57 million DALYs (summary measure of popula8on health) ▪ Individuals are o?en afflicted with more than one NTD at a 8me ▪ NTDs and the “big three” diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria) are o?en co-endemic, complica8ng prognosis and treatment = Hotez’s “gang of four” ▪ Treatment cost for most NTD mass drug administra8on programs is es8mated at less than fi?y cents (USD) per person per year

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