ND Fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases was born four years ago out of a simple reality: NTDs can be treated for just 50 cents per person per year, but no one really knows these diseases exist. The members of ND Fighting NTDs feel this reality needs to change.
NTDs are a group of seven easily treatable but devastating diseases that cause blindness, grotesquely swollen limbs, malnutrition, mental retardation and intestinal cancers. All seven are easily preventable with medicine already developed and donated by major pharmaceutical companies. The main obstacle is the cost associated with distribution, a cost of 50 cents a year for each of the 1.4 billion suffering people.
This week is our third annual NTD Awareness Week. Event highlights include a Slumdog Millionaire movie watch in Keough Hall tonight at 7 p.m., and our Harry Potter Trivia Night on Tuesday. On Thursday we host an "Avenues to Africa" open house in the LaFortune Student Center, and on Friday stop by our Global Health Panel with free lunch at noon in Coleman Morse Center.
We have two fundraisers this week: On Wednesday, 10 percent of any purchase you make at Five Guys on Eddy Street will be donated to NTDs if you put your receipt in the marked box next to the cashier. Students will be collecting money from their dormmates.
I look forward to seeing you all this week help ND Fighting NTDs work for the dignity of 1.4 billion lives.
Eileen Lynch
senior
Ryan Hall
Oct. 29
