1. ND Fighting NTDs :
An Overview

2. What are Neglected Tropical Diseases?
You could fill Notre Dame stadium 17,822 times with the people infected with NTDs around the world.
1.4 billion people worldwide are infected with one or more of the 13 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
For every ND undergrad, there are 180,000 people infected with an NTD.
NTDs affect more people in the world than AIDS and malaria combined.

3. What are the diseases called?
LYMPHATIC FILIRIASIS
ASCARIASIS
HOOKWORM
TRACHOMA
ONOROCHONIASIS (RIVER BLINDNESS)
TRICHURIASIS (WHIPWORM)
SCHISTOSOMIASIS (SNAIL FEVER)

4. Video Courtesy GNNTD

5. 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 agencies and the drug companies mentioned above, all seven of the most common NTDs can be controlled for approximately 50 cents per person per year.

6. NTDs in the News
Recent development: President Obama included a $155 million allocation for the treatment, control, and eradication of NTDs in the 2011 fiscal year State & Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.
ND Fighting NTDs is planning to work closely with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (GNNTD), a group which raises the profile of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and builds support for control and elimination activities. The GNNTD connects global players and afflicted communities to increase access to vital medicines that can stop these illnesses and lift the world’s poorest people out of poverty.

7. Lymphatic Filiariasis (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
Medication to treat symptoms has been donated by GlaskoSmith, a prominent drug company

8. Ascaraisis 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

9. 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

10. Trachoma The world’s leading cause of preventable blindness
41 million people suffer from active trachoma infection
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

11. Onorochoniasis (River Blindness)
Infects 37 million people living near rivers in sub-Saharan Africa
The world’s 4th leading cause of preventable blindness
500,000 of those infected are severely impaired visually while 270,000 are permanently blind from the disease
Transmitted through black flies
Causes skin rashes, lesions, and blindness

12. Trichuriasis (Whipworm)
604 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

13. Schistosomiasis (Snail Fever)
Most deadly of the NTDs: kills 280,000 people each year
Second only to malaria as the most common parasitic disease
207 million people are afflicted by this disease
Easily transmitted through any contact with infested water
Causes swelling of the abdomen, kidney disease, liver disease, and bladder cancer
Children under 14 are especially at risk

14. ND Fighting NTDs Structure: Officers
President: Emily Conron
Co-Treasurers: Mike McCurrie and Tom Emery
Event Planning Chair: Jake Coleman
Publicity & Awareness Chair: Eileen Lynch
Alumni Outreach Chair: Sean Heiden
Webmaster: position available!
Club officer elections will be held in February 2011.

15. ND Fighting NTDs: Committee Descriptions
Event Planning Committee: plans and coordinates awareness and fundraising events around campus
Publicity & Awareness Committee: coordinates publicity activities, print and digital advertising, and marketing campaigns
Alumni Outreach Committee: coordinates alumni activities and maintains the communication channel between alumni and friends of the university and the NTD group

16. Goals for the Year
Raise the Notre Dame community’s awareness of the NTD crisis and the availability of drugs to combat it
Encourage students to get involved in spreading awareness by contacting their legislators, community leaders, business executives, and the general public
Plan events on campus to raise awareness and educate students about NTDs
Dorm movie showings
Lecture series with guest speakers
Producing promotional materials (t-shirts, posters, table tents for dining halls, brochures, etc.)

17. Even MORE Goals for the Year!
Fundraisers
A benefit concert
T-shirt sales
Sponsorships by local businesses
Dinners at local restaurants
Coordinating with other on-campus clubs and the CSC
Getting bigger – tell your friends!

18. Questions? Comments? Ideas?
Thanks so much for your interest! 
Check out these sites for more info on NTDs:
Join our Facebook group: “ND Fighting NTDs”
Meetings will be held every other Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. in Geddes Hall basement, classroom B036 (usually last minutes or less)
Please give us your if you are not on our listserv already.