Return of Old Diseases Feared
Lack of vaccine funding deplored
GENEVA
The world could see the reemergence of old diseases if more money is not spent on vaccines, the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and World Bank have warned.
While vaccines have saved billions of lives in the past 100 years, they are still not reaching those most in need, the three organizations said in their joint State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization report.
"If urgent and strategic action is not taken to close the gaps in funding, research, and global immunization coverage, the world will see the reintroduction of old diseases and the emergence of new infections," said the report, launched at a meeting of the partners of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization in Dakar, Senegal.
Almost three quarters of the world's children are currently being reached with essential vaccines but the report complained of wide variations between North and South. Children in rich countries have access to additional, newer vaccines against diseases such as hepatitis. But in Subsaharan Africa, only half of children have access to basic immunization against such common diseases as tuberculosis, measles, tetanus, and whooping cough, the report noted.
In 2000, 1.7 million people died from tuberculosis, which is today reemerging, fuelled by the rising prevalence of coinfection with HIV, especially in Africa, and by increasing resistance to medicines.
The report underscored the urgent need for a new vaccine against tuberculosis, as well as for a vaccine against malaria, which kills about one million people a year, mostly African children.
Nearly three million people, two million of them children, die every year from common vaccine-preventable diseases. An extra US$250 million a year would enable at least 10 million more children to be reached with basic vaccines, and another $100 million a year would cover the cost of newer vaccines, the report said.
"Vaccines are among the most cost effective public health interventions. We need to invest more-and more rationally-in vaccine coverage and research, and ensure access in all corners of the globe," said UNICEF executive director Carol Bellamy.
AFP
WHO Expert Rejects Listing Diseases in WTO Medicines Talks
GENEVA
The WHO coordinator for its action program on medicines has rejected the idea of drawing up a list of diseases that should fall under any new regime agreed by the World Trade Organization for better access for poor countries to life-saving medicines.
"Whatever list, by definition, would be a restrictive list, and is therefore a step backwards," said German Velasquez.
Brussels has suggested a list of 22 diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. But the European Union has proposed that any developing country without the capacity to produce pharmaceuticals and in need of generic drugs for a public health crisis not featured on the list should seek WHO advice.
Velasquez has in the past accused the WTO members of losing sight of the spirit of Doha when ministers declared that nothing in trade agreements should prevent poor countries from having access to life-saving medicines.
In their declaration in the Qatari capital in N the national health authorities are sufficiently competent to decide [on their] priorities and emergencies in health matters. It is not for the WTO or the WHO to fix the priorities."
AFP
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