Recent news
February 2012
PBS spotlights cost savings of preventing NTDs
February 23, 2012 -- Following the recent announcement that a group of international partners is increasing its investment in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), PBS’s The Rundown blog interviewed two officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the impact NTDs have on the developing world and why more work needs to be done to combat them. In the video post, Dr. Mark Eberhardt, who specializes in NTDs, and Dr. Stephen Cochi, a measles and polio specialist, describe the effects NTDs have on society and cost savings that would occur if NTDs were eradicated.
According to both scientists, investing in research and development to fight NTDs is extremely beneficial, particularly because developing new prevention tools can save money that would otherwise be spent on treatment. For example, as a result of increased access to tools to prevent lymphatic filariasis, a disease that causes debilitating swelling in the limps and genitalia, six to seven million children worldwide are no longer at risk of disfigurement from the disease. The cost savings associated with this initial success is upward of $250 million, according to Dr. Eberhardt. Additionally, with the eradication of polio in most parts of the world, there is an estimated savings of $30–40 billion over the next 30 years. The benefits of preventing NTDs not only helps economies, but enables more children to go to school and eventually enter the workforce, according to the video post.
- To watch the PBS blog post, click here
