We invited the children who participated in our Shine A Light Poster Competition earlier in the year to use their creativity to express their views on health.
Sahara, a winner of the competition, created this drawing.
Poor health can rob a child of their dreams because it makes them incapable of pursuing their dreams and limits their ability to hold on to them. Sahara said that the way they view the world would also change.
Holly, whose poster made the shortlist for the competition, shared her thoughts on this drawing.
Holly said, “I drew the picture with hands on each other because many people are working to stop parasitic diseases.” Holly Jones believes that illness is what prevents children from fulfilling their dreams.
Holly said, “Because of their illness, they’re not able to do things and are excluded from them. They are sometimes unable to attend school. They are not educated for the jobs they want to do, such as being a nurse.”
Sahara and Holly, thank you for sharing with us what health means to you and for your inspiring drawings. They really reflect the core of our new brand.
There is evidence that deworming treatments for school-aged children are insufficient to eliminate parasitic diseases.
We will also address the other major causes of parasitic diseases, including unsafe water contact, transmission between animals, and human-to-animal contact.
We support health equity and stronger health systems.
A woman shows the Praziquantel treatment for schistosomiasis during a drug distribution in Pemba, Zanzibar. Credit: Unlimited Health/William Mgobela
It is impossible to eliminate parasitic diseases without dealing with the factors that create a constant risk of infection.
The lack of health equity and poverty are both closely linked to these conditions. Parasitic disease thrives in communities that lack basic services, such as access to clean water and sanitation.
Our new strategy focuses on supporting health systems that offer a full range of health services, including prevention of disease transmission, treatment of parasitic diseases and their consequences, and care of those who need them.
The deworming treatment is a central part of our work.
We will continue to work with our partners to provide millions of deworming treatments each year.
We will also help our partners expand their treatment programs. To improve health for all, we need to increase access to parasitic disease treatment for those who are currently excluded, such as younger children, pregnant women, and at-risk adults.
We also aim to make treatment and elimination efforts more effective and sustainable by focusing them on areas with the greatest need.
We support the ownership of countries.
Kalanga is the language of training for community health workers. Credit: Unlimit Health/Malaika Media
Health services that are widely accessible and effective can only be created when countries with endemic populations determine the funding and priorities for health systems, as they are best placed to know their needs and preferences. In line with the Sustainable Development Agenda and the WHO’s goals, we have re-emphasized our support for the ownership of health programs by countries in our new strategy. We will do everything we can to help our colleagues in endemic countries by putting our expertise to work.
Please contact us if you have any questions or comments about our new direction and the way that we communicated it.
Professor Gyapong:
“With less that a decade left to achieve sustainable development goals, and plans to implement an entirely new strategy, my co-President Dr Wendy Harrison and myself pledge to work closely with key stakeholders to identify and address current global health challenges as best we can.”
“I am thrilled to contribute as coPresident. I will bring together a diverse array of global experts to not only drive RSTMH’s priorities forward but also to address the broader challenges we face today in the changing global health landscape,” said Dr Harrison.
RSTMH aims to improve tropical medicine through increased awareness.
Access and equity in global health care
Unlimited Health congratulates Professor Gyapong and Dr Harrison on their respective awards.
RSTMH wishes RSTMH all the best in their future priorities.
If Ponzi Pinot Noir is better, then it’s a no-brainer. Is this wine from Italy? No. It’s Oregon. It’s Pinot Noir. Every sommelier in the world (except for a few who love odd grapes such as Ploussard) believes that Pinot Noir is the best red grape to pair with anything. What more could you want? Berry fruit, fine tannins, and acidity that goes well with pepperoni (good with tomato sauce), screw-top opening (easy to use), what else can you ask for?
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