END7 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SPRING 2014 An Overview

Can you watch what they watched?

What are Neglected Tropical Diseases? 11.4 billion people worldwide are infected with one or more neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). NTDs affect more people in the world than AIDS and malaria combined. For every UT undergrad, there are 28,000 people infected with an NTD. You could fill the stadium 14,000 times with the people infected with NTDs around the world.

What are the diseases called? We focus on the seven most common: Whipworm (Trichuriasis) Hookworm Roundworm (Ascariasis) Trachoma River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) Elephantiasis Snail Fever (Schistosomiasis)

What do the diseases look like?

Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) 120 million people are infected worldwide An additional 1 billion are at risk for contracting it Caused by parasitic filarial worms that feed off the human through their lymphatic system The worms living within the lymphatic system cause swelling in the limbs and in the genitals making this an extremely painful, disfiguring and debilitating disease

Ascaraisis (Roundworm) Affects nearly 1/8 of the world’s population 807 million people worldwide are infected Kills 60,000 people annually Causes swelling of the abdomen and severe abdominal pain, malnutrition, anemia, and impaired physical growth, particularly in children

Hookworm Nearly one-tenth of the world’s population infected Infects 576 million people worldwide, including 44 million pregnant women Intestinal parasite causes severe weight loss, loss of appetite, and extreme fatigue and weakness In 2001, the World Health Organization adopted a resolution aimed at the deworming of 75 percent of all at-risk school-age children by 2010, the largest public health program ever attempted to date A hookworm vaccine is also in development and is currently in a Phase I clinical trial

Trachoma The world’s leading cause of preventable blindness 84 million people suffer from active trachoma infection – 8 million have been blinded by it An infectious disease of the eye spread easily by contact with an infected person or by flies that have come in contact with the eyes or nose of an infected person Because trachoma is transmitted through close personal contact, it tends to occur in clusters—often infecting entire families and communities and leading dozens blind in a single village

Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) Infects 37 million people living near rivers in sub-Saharan Africa – 1 million have been blinded by it The world’s 4 th leading cause of preventable blindness Transmitted through black flies Causes skin rashes, lesions, and eventually blindness

Trichuriasis (Whipworm) 607 million people are infected worldwide Transmitted through accidental ingestion of contaminated soil or unwashed vegetables fertilized with human feces Children are at an especially high risk for whipworm because they often play outside in the dirt or soil Prolonged exposure to whipworm can cause serious health consequences including malnutrition, anemia, swelling of the abdomen and physical growth retardation

Schistosomiasis (Snail Fever) Most Deadly of the NTDs: kills 280,000 people each year (the second-most deadly parasitic disease, after malaria) Infects 207 million people worldwide Easily transmitted through any contact with snail infested water Causes swelling of the abdomen, kidney disease, liver disease, and bladder cancer A woman with genital schistosomiasis is three times more likely to contract HIV, and schistosomiasis accelerates the progression of HIV to AIDS

Treating NTDs NTDs are controllable and possibly eradicable by safe and effective drugs already in existence, many of which are donated by pharmaceutical companies (Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer). With public-private partnerships like those between government health agencies and drug companies, the seven common NTDs can be prevented & treated for approximately 50¢ per person per year. By 2020, the global community has committed to eliminate elephantiasis and trachoma and control snail fever, hookworm, whipworm, roundworm, and river blindness – the seven most common NTDs.

For Just 50¢… a child can stay in school… a father can work and provide for his family… a mother can deliver her baby safely… and eventually, families and communities become stronger, healthier, and more productive

If we could get NTD drugs to the people who need them… Treating hookworm in children could result in a 40% increase in future wage earnings De-worming in Kenya could raise per-capita earning by 30% Controlling lymphatic filariasis in India would add $1.5 billion to the country’s annual GNP Controlling intestinal worms would help to avoid 16 million cases of mental retardation and 200 million years of lost primary schooling among children in developing countries

END7’s Part END7 is a campaign of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. The Global Network, an initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, is dedicated to raising the awareness, political will, and funding required to eliminate these diseases as a public health threat to the world’s poorest communities. END7 is focused on achieving the goal of eliminating the 7 most common NTDs by 2020.

END7 at UT VERY FIRST University partner of END7 Increase the working knowledge of NTDs among members to make them effective advocates for END7 Raise funds for Rapid- Impact Packages Host awareness events to involve UT and greater Austin communities

End7 at UT: How are we making a difference?

Membership Requirements Attend at least 5 of the 7 meetings February 4 th (today) February 18 th March 4 th March 18 th April 1 st April 15 th April 29 th Attend at least 3 events General tabling, fundraisers, awareness events $50 fundraising requirement Membership options

Communications Committee Update Social Media Outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram) Manage Website: Create and facilitate blog posts Keep track of all digital media accounts Put together slide shows/videos/presentations of events Archive website presentations through blog posts Create and print flyers/ physical media for distribution

Social Awareness Committee Work to promote both internal and external awareness of END7’s mission and issues surrounding NTDs Plan, head, and organize all social awareness events Plan educational curriculum for members and for special awareness events Research current NTD events to keep members up to date on progress

Fundraising Committee Coordinate all fundraisers on campus Work with social awareness committee to coordinate tabling Organizing efforts to raise money through promotion of our website and personal network resources

Finance/ Grant-Writing Committee Record all organization expenses Keep track of all money raised during fundraisers and through online donations Manage bank account Apply for grants and corporate donations

Upcoming Events Next meeting: February 18 th at 5 pm (same room) Valentine’s Day Fundraiser

Thank you for your incredible support and commitment. We would not be able to do this without you!!