How can the industrial world help to implement new vaccines against poverty-related diseases?

Abstract

Communicable diseases are both a consequence and a cause of poverty. The most disadvantaged in society are subject to more social risk factors for contracting infections such as HIV, TB and malaria. By destroying human capital, these diseases reduce the potential for economic growth and fuel a vicious cycle of poverty at the individual, national and regional level. Contrary to common belief, however, the majority of diseases affecting the developing countries can be effectively treated using existing medicines. The Essential Drugs List [1] from the World Health Organization (WHO) contains safe, effective treatments for the infectious and chronic diseases which affect the vast majority of the world’s population. The excessive mortality rate of many infectious diseases in developing countries is, therefore, mainly caused by limited access to drugs, unavailability of health services and failure to use prevention strategies …