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-GSK will increase the donation of albendazole for enabling the de-worming of school children in Africa

Spain, 2010-October during the presentation of the first report of the World Health Organization on the neglected tropical diseases, GSK has announced its new commitment for five years to expand the donation of your medicine albendazole for treating children at risk of spread of intestinal parasites, known as: worms transmitted overland (STH) (As soil-transmitted helminths).

The report confirms that the intestinal worms cause further health problems in school-age children than any other infection. (Transmitted by the earth worms) STHS exacerbate malnutrition and expand the types of anemia, this way hinder children’s physical growth and cognitive development that contributes significantly to the truancy. The lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation are major factors in the persistence and prevalence of these diseases.

As part of control programmes, who recommends annual treatment with albendazole in single dose (or mebendazole) to all children aged between 1 and 15 in STH endemic areas. This “Elimination of parasites” usually obtains immediate improvements in child health and development of children. Also reduces absenteeism at the school which leads to improved academic achievement and helps to reduce the problems on the already overburdened health systems.

Under the new compromise, GSK will increase the production capacity of albendazole through new investments in their factories in South Africa and the India. These investments will provide more than 400 million albendazole treatments additional to the current year. This represents a new and important contribution to the strategy of the United Nations to improve the health of women and children, and when combined with de-worming programmes, will allow countries to increase their efforts to achieve universal coverage of the school children in Africa. Shipments of the new donation of albendazole is expected to begin at the end of 2011.

Andrew Witty, CEO GlaxoSmithKline said: “the scale of what is needed to prevent and treat neglected tropical diseases means that it is essential to take an approach common. commend the leadership of who to increase the visibility of these diseases on the health community world.” There is a growing momentum in the industry, Governments and other institutions to provide both medicines and resources. Our activity in this area is widespread, with investigations ongoing in prevention and treatment. Another important commitment is now set to GSK and we hope to make a positive contribution in the improvement of the health of people living in countries faced with these diseases ”.

DRA. Margaret Chan, who Director-General has stated: “this commitment extends through a collaborative long-term between who and GSK in the fight against diseases that perpetuate poverty and keep people in poverty, especially in Africa.” Albendazole is a safe, effective and easy treatment administered to children infected with helminthiasis transmitted by the Earth, getting quick results with long-term benefits. GSK donation means that many millions of people (children) will benefit as part of a strategy that can break the cycle of poverty, poor health, poor school performance and loss of productivity. “

The new commitment to provide 400 million albendazole tablets a year for treatment of intestinal parasites joins the commitment of GSK’s who provide 600 million tablets of albendazole for use in the “ global programme for the Elimination of lymphatic Filiárisis ” a debilitating chronic illness that causes damage in the linfá system”Tico, kidneys, arms, legs and genitals. This means that the total donation of GSK to who will be 1000 million albendazole tablets to the year.

More info:

-Intestinal parasites affect more than 1.2 billion people around the world, 300 million of whom live in Africa.

-the biggest impact of intestinal parasites is vested in the children. For children aged 5-14 years in countries with limited resources, the intestinal worms represent 11-12 per cent of the total burden of disease in this group age.

-have intestinal parasites contributes to the malnutrition and slow growth. The anemia associated hookworms in women of childbearing age contributes significantly to low weight at birth and a greater mortality child.

-the schooling of children increases with de-worming programmes. 562 Million school children in the developing world, worm infections cause nearly 200 millions of years of schooling lost.

– there are three main species of intestinal worms, round worm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the uncinarias (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).

-neglected chronic diseases (NTDS) are a group of infections chronic disabling affecting populations más poor of the world and are an indicator of poverty and disadvantage. About 2.7 billion people living on less than $2 a day and it is estimated that 1.2 billion are affected by chronic illnesses neglected.

GlaxoSmithKline, is a world leading pharmaceutical company in the research and the health care committed to improving the quality of human life helping people do more, feel better and live longer.