Strong Local Scientific Communities Are Essential to Reach the Millennium Development Goals

Infectious diseases disproportionately affect the health of populations living in lowand middle-income countries. In addition to the most prevalent diseases, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and HIV, more than 1 billion people worldwide—most of whom live in remote, rural areas, urban slums, or conflict zones—are also vulnerable to a diverse group of diseases termed neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Among the 17 diseases classified as NTDs by the World Health Organization are Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniases caused by protozoa; Buruli ulcer, leprosy, trachoma, and yaws caused by bacteria; cysticercosis, dracunculiasis, echinococcosis, trematodiases, lynpharic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and schistosomiasis caused by helminthes; and dengue, chikungunya, and rabies caused by viruses [1]. Besides their immediate public health concern, NTDs can also be chronic in nature, thriving and promoting poverty among the poorest populations [2]. Hence, there is growing recognition that control of NTDs represents a development opportunity that can help alleviate poverty among the world’s economically challenged peoples. In particular, elimination of NTDs can have direct impact on the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which are targets set in 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly to achieve global economic and health equality to improve people’s lives and end poverty [3]. In addition, one of the three statements issued by the joint Science Academies of Group of Seven (G7) nations in April 2015 also concerned NTDs [4]. The G7 Academies call for: