The Burning Issue: Parasites - enemy of the poor

For millions of the world's poor, parasitic infections can be debilitating or even lethal. There are high hopes for new mass medication programmes but treatment has not always proceeded as planned, and in some cases there has been fierce local resistance.

In this Burning Issue public lecture, Tim Allen - professor of development anthropology -- will examine the facts, the failures and the future of our fight against one of humankind's most endemic invisible enemies.

The lecture is the first of LSE's 'Burning Issues' lectures -- a short series of interactive talks designed with a public audience in mind. Two lectures will follow with Professor Emily Jackson tackling the issue of assisting dying in the 'Right to Die' and Professor Conor Gearty asking what human rights are in 'The DNA of Human Rights'.

The Burning Issue Lectures are supported by the LSE Annual Fund and Cato Stonex (BSc International Relations 1986).

Press Release: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2012/01/Neglectedtropicaldis...

Watch on the LSE website - http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/videoAndAudio/channels/theBurningIssue/pla...

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[snowpunk116]

good video

[jdfpa96]

I see me!



[ProfessorTimAllen]

The point amount working with local healers- including those referred to sometimes as "witchdoctors" is important. If they are not supportive or oppose tablet distribution, problems arise. However, that is a related - but different - issue to that of conspiracy theories. Those need to be addressed by broader communication with the population. It is outrageous that after multiple rounds of treatment, knowledge of how these diseases are spread or how treatments work is so poorly communicated.

[amuteru]

Interestingly, why is there mistrust between communities and the curer? 'Protest, rumours or conspiracy theories is simplistic and intellectually indolent. Rather than brand herbalist or traditional healers as witches and sorcerers (like Harry Porter and co are any different), why not work with them?. Empowering Africans to build health institutions, train and retain their own doctors, would be worthy. No amount of drugs or cyclic donations or indeed education will replace this.