Yet today, we find ourselves dismantling these hard-won achievements. Extraordinary cuts to disease prevention, research, and surveillance programs signal a large-scale reversal of a successful strategy of containment and elimination. Such an irresponsible pivot risks opening the door for vaccine-preventable diseases, drug-resistant infections and new pandemics to reemerge with devastating force. If we continue down this path, the consequences will be felt not just in developing nations, but across the industrialized world, where health systems already are under strain.

It could take years to regain the high ground we currently hold against infectious diseases; many countries may never get there again. While pursuing modernization and efficiencies in the global health system is vital, randomly eliminating or suppressing funding and institutions we rely on to develop the pipeline of new vaccines, therapeutics, and practices to fight tomorrow’s pathogens only weakens us further. Our most dangerous disease threats constantly evolve, probe our weaknesses, and exploit natural opportunities to strike.

The attack on America’s preeminent medical research institutions and the innovations they fuel severely undermines our ability to counter disease while degrading the very talent we need to protect us: the next generation of scientists and medical researchers.

Many prominent health leaders are sounding the alarm, but until a coalition of the informed begins to take shape, we may as well be screaming into the wind. Unless a concerted effort is made to change course, the infrastructure, jobs, institutional knowledge, and recruitment of future health experts that constitute one of humanity’s greatest achievements may be dismantled. Surely by now we have learned that research and disease prevention is dramatically less costly than deploying the vast resources necessary to respond to a new outbreak.

Here’s one path forward: U.S. health communicators, advocates, and leaders should coordinate framing the issues to state and congressional lawmakers who stand to lose the most from the current health funding policy direction. Many of the places contributing the most to America’s competitive advantage in biomedical research are in conservative districts that receive funding from the NIH and other public sources.

Similarly, emerging diseases often pose the highest threat to people battling chronic diseases or living in areas underserved by health services, which means all of us are affected, regardless of economic status or ideological belief. People at every level of the health system—from practitioners to patients, researchers to drugmakers—should be energized to speak with one voice and let policymakers know that retreat in the face of defeatable disease threats is the wrong direction for the U.S.

Disease is humanity’s greatest enemy, and it constantly hovers at our doorstep. Do we pretend not to hear it knocking, or do we recognize its dangers and act?

That’s exactly the moment we are facing now. Our situation is complicated by the fact that our most important defenses – biomedical research and disease prevention infrastructure – are being demolished before our eyes. It will take real courage to act, but we must marshal our resources, defying the ambivalence and dismissiveness that make us more vulnerable to looming infectious disease threats. This is no time to retreat.

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The UN Conference of the Parties (COP) has gathered annually for nearly three decades, bringing together leaders from almost every nation to tackle the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. However, the media’s focus on immediate outcomes and controversies often invites us to overlook these Summits’ long-term progress and significance. It’s important to remember that these events are not just about the headlines but about the promise of change and hope they bring for a sustainable future.

While skeptics may point out the shortcomings of these Summits, they may be missing the bigger picture. No nation is perfect, and even those with sustainability policies must recognize that turning their backs on emerging nations’ struggles delays global action. The participation of developing countries in the COP process is not just theoretical; it is crucial to the worldwide mobilization necessary to tackle the issue.

These nations, often the most at risk from climate change, are not just participants but key contributors to arriving at inclusive solutions. Their unique perspectives and challenges shape the discussions and decisions made at these Summits, making them an integral part of the global climate action.

In nearly three decades, COP Summits have made remarkable progress. The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21, was a significant milestone in global climate action. This agreement, signed by 195 countries, aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with an aspiration to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees. Recognizing such achievements is crucial; it reminds us that these gatherings and collaborations are not in vain but a beacon of hope for a sustainable future.

The Early Days: Building a Framework for Global Action

The first COP meeting in 1995, held in Berlin, marked the beginning of a sustained global effort to address climate change, and it set the tone for what would become an evolving negotiation process. COP1 established the “Berlin Mandate,” a landmark agreement that recognized the historical responsibility of developed countries, the most significant historical emitters of greenhouse gases, in causing climate change. This mandate laid the groundwork for future discussions and paved the way for the Kyoto Protocol, adopted two years later in 1997 at COP3 in Kyoto, Japan.

The Kyoto Protocol was a watershed moment in global climate policy. For the first time, countries agreed to legally binding emission reduction targets. Although it applied to developed nations, the protocol set a precedent for collective and individual national accountability.

The agreement faced its share of challenges—most notably, the United States’ refusal to ratify it—but it still represented a significant step forward. The protocol underscored the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” a concept that remains central to climate negotiations today.

Mid-Course Correction: The Road to Paris

As the COP Summits progressed, it became increasingly evident a more inclusive and flexible approach was needed, as it was recognized that the Kyoto Protocol, focusing on binding targets for a subset of countries, would not be achievable. The realization led to the Bali Action Plan at COP13 in 2007, which initiated a process to negotiate a new global agreement to include all nations, developed and emerging.

This was the Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21 in 2015. The Paris Agreement marked a significant shift in how nations engage to stem climate change. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, which imposed top-down targets, the Paris Agreement encourages countries to set their determined contributions (NDCs) based on specific circumstances. This flexibility was vital to securing the participation of nearly every country worldwide. The agreement also established a framework for transparency and accountability, requiring countries to report on their progress regularly.

Yet the Paris Agreement’s most significant achievement was its commitment to limit global warming to “well below 2 degrees Celsius” above pre-industrial levels, intending to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. Though ambitious, this target reflects the scientific consensus necessary to avoid climate change’s most catastrophic impacts. The Paris Agreement was a triumph of collaborative diplomacy, demonstrating that global cooperation is possible despite incredible policy and economic standing differences.

The United States was a late signer of the Paris Agreement. It joined the community in 2016 but withdrew soon after, in 2017; on January 20, 2021, President Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to the Paris Agreement on his first day in office.

New Era of Ambition and Accountability

In the years following the Paris Agreement, the COP Summits have focused on putting the structure needed to implement its goals. COP24 in Katowice, Poland, 2018 formalized the “Paris Rulebook,” providing detailed guidelines on implementing the agreement’s provisions. This includes rules for how countries should report their emissions and progress and how to ensure transparency and accountability.

Another significant achievement came at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021 under the theme “Together for Our Planet.” The Summit saw a wave of new commitments from countries to enhance their NDCs, reflecting a growing recognition that the original Paris pledges were insufficient to meet the 1.5-degree target.

The Glasgow Climate Pact agreed upon at COP26 urged countries to “revisit and strengthen” their targets by 2022 and included the first-ever explicit mention of phasing down unabated coal power. The pact also emphasized the need for developed countries to fulfill their promise to provide $100 billion per year in climate finance to emerging nations, a commitment that has been a sticking point in negotiations since.

COP26 also saw the launch of several major initiatives aimed at accelerating climate action. The Global Methane Pledge, for instance, committed signatories to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, an action that could significantly slow the rate of global warming. Additionally, more than 130 countries pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, recognizing forests’ critical role in absorbing carbon dioxide.

Addressing the Critics: Why COP Matters

Indeed, the COP process is not without its flaws. Critics often point to the slow pace of negotiations, the gap between promises and action, and the influence of powerful fossil fuel interests in the nations hosting the Summit. All these concerns are valid. However, they should not overshadow the progress made or the world’s ticking clock in addressing climate change. The COP Summits are instrumental in creating a framework for addressing a common concern—people and planet are at risk.

The shift from the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement reflects a broader understanding that tackling climate change requires grasstop to grassroots global collaboration and local action. COP provides a community setting for bringing together governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and thought leaders to share ideas, forge partnerships, and hold each other accountable.

Notably, the COP Summits have played a crucial role in elevating the climate crisis on the global agenda. These meetings’ visibility and media coverage have helped build public awareness and pressure governments to act. Climate change is now a central issue in international relations due in no small part to the sustained efforts of the COP process.

Looking Ahead: The Road to COP29 and Beyond

The upcoming COP29 Summit in Baku will be another critical moment as we prepare for the future. The focus will be on assessing the collective progress toward the Paris Agreement goals and scaling up ambition to meet the 1.5-degree target. This will require substantial government commitments and more significant engagement from the private sector and civil society.

The challenges are immense, and the achievements of the past 28 COP Summits provide a good cause for optimism. Each Summit has built on the potential of the previous gathering, gradually moving the world closer to a shared, sustainable future. The road ahead will not be easy, but the COP process has shown that, despite imperfections, it remains our best hope for achieving climate justice. The COP gatherings matter because they are the only global forum where every country has a voice in the essential effort to course-correct climate change. They matter because they have led to concrete actions that will make a difference.  They matter because they embody the principle that collaborative action can change the course of history, no matter how daunting the challenge. As we approach COP29, remember that these meetings are about give and take and building

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At the forefront of these preventable tragedies is pneumonia, a leading cause of death that can often be averted through inexpensive vaccines and antibiotics. Immunisation campaigns and community health programs can ensure that treatments reach those in need, transforming a potential death sentence into a manageable condition. Simple practices, such as promoting exclusive breastfeeding, can also bolster a child’s immune system against pneumonia and other diseases.

Diarrheal diseases, closely linked to poor sanitation and unsafe water, are another major threat to young lives. However, the provision of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and zinc supplements offers a beacon of hope. These treatments, costing mere cents per dose, can swiftly restore hydration and save lives. Moreover, investing in clean water initiatives and basic hygiene education provides a sustainable path to disease prevention.

Malaria, a relentless killer in many low-income regions, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, can be effectively combated with insecticide-treated mosquito nets and prophylactic antimalarial medications. These interventions, surprisingly affordable, can drastically reduce malaria incidence and mortality among vulnerable infant populations.

Neonatal conditions, such as complications from preterm birth, infections, and birth asphyxia, highlight the critical need for improved maternal and newborn care. Skilled birth attendance, a cost-effective strategy, can prevent many such deaths. Additionally, kangaroo mother care (skin-to-skin contact) and basic neonatal resuscitation techniques offer low-cost, high-impact solutions to neonatal mortality.

Lastly, malnutrition — a pervasive threat to child survival — can be addressed through nutrition education, support for exclusive breastfeeding, and the provision of vitamin A and micronutrient powders. These interventions prevent death and promote healthy development, all at a minimal cost.

The narrative of child mortality in low-income countries is not solely one of despair but also one of hope and opportunity. By implementing these low-cost interventions, the global community can make significant strides in saving lives and nurturing the potential of millions of children. It is a testament to the power of simple, affordable solutions facing daunting challenges, offering a brighter future for the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Low-cost interventions that save lives

Pneumonia

• Vaccination: The pneumococcal and Hib vaccines can prevent many pneumonia cases. The cost can vary, but Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has negotiated prices as low as USD 1.5 per dose for some vaccines in low-income countries.
• Exclusive Breastfeeding: Encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life can significantly improve a child’s immunity. The costs here are more about education and support systems for mothers.
• Access to Antibiotics: For cases where pneumonia develops, timely administration of antibiotics can save lives. A full course of antibiotics for pneumonia treatment can cost less than USD 0.50 per child.

Diarrheal Diseases

• Rotavirus Vaccination: Rotavirus vaccines effectively prevent the most common cause of severe diarrhoea in children, with costs in Gavi-supported countries around USD 1–3 per dose.
• Clean Water and Sanitation (WASH): Providing access to clean water and promoting handwashing can drastically reduce diarrheal diseases. The cost per child can be very low when spread across communities but varies widely depending on the specific intervention and infrastructure development.
• Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and Zinc Supplementation: These are highly effective treatments for diarrheal diseases, costing as little as USD 0.50 for ORS packets and zinc supplements for one treatment course.

Malaria

• Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs): Mosquito nets treated with insecticide are a simple, effective way to prevent malaria. The cost per net is typically around USD 2–3, and each net can protect up to two children for up to three years.
• Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS): Spraying the inside of homes with insecticides can also reduce malaria transmission. The cost varies but is generally between USD 3–7 per person per year.
• Antimalarial Drugs: Prophylactic antimalarial drugs for pregnant women and young children in high-risk areas can prevent illness. The cost per treatment is around USD 0.50 to USD 1.
• Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the cornerstone of malaria treatment recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The cost of ACTs in low-income countries varies, influenced by factors such as local policies, subsidies, the involvement of global health initiatives, and whether the drugs are purchased in the public or private sector. A typical course is just three days of treatment, and the cost to the healthcare system is less than USD 1.
• Anti-malarial vaccines: The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine recommended by WHO, following the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, which received a WHO recommendation in 2021. Both vaccines are shown to be safe and effective in preventing malaria in children and, when implemented broadly, are expected to have a high public health impact. Three to four doses are administered at USD 2 — USD 4 per dose.

Neonatal Conditions

• Skilled Birth Attendance: Ensuring that births are attended by skilled health personnel can significantly reduce neonatal deaths. Training community health workers can be relatively low-cost, with significant returns in reduced mortality.
• Thermal Care: Simple practices like kangaroo mother care (skin-to-skin contact) can prevent hypothermia in newborns with negligible cost.
• Basic Neonatal Care: Including clean delivery practices, proper cord care, and early breastfeeding initiation. The cost here is more about training and education than direct intervention costs.

Nutritional Deficiencies

• Exclusive Breastfeeding: Promoted for the first six months to provide all necessary nutrients and improve immunity.
• Vitamin A Supplementation: This can significantly reduce child mortality from all causes, with each dose costing as little as USD 0.02 to USD 0.30.
• Micronutrient Powders: Sprinkle on foods can combat malnutrition, costing about USD 0.03 to USD 0.10 per sachet.

How many children between the ages of zero to five live in low-income countries

Unfortunately, there isn’t a single, definitive source with data on the exact number of children aged 0 to 5 living in low-income countries. This is due to a few reasons:

• Defining “low-income countries”: Different classifications are used by organisations like the World Bank. These classifications can change over time.
• Data collection challenges: Gathering accurate data in low-income countries can be difficult due to resource limitations and infrastructure issues.

However, we can look at child poverty data as a proxy. UNICEF reports that 333 million children live in extreme poverty worldwide, meaning they lack necessities like food, shelter, sanitation, healthcare, and education. This data can give us a general idea of the magnitude of the problem.

What can be done?

Governments, NGOs, and civil society play pivotal roles in mitigating child mortality in low-income countries, leveraging their unique positions to initiate, support, and scale up various interventions. Here are ways these entities can collaborate and contribute effectively:

Strengthening Healthcare Systems

• Governments can allocate increased funding to health services, ensuring that healthcare facilities are adequately staffed, equipped, and accessible to the population, including remote areas.
• NGOs often work to fill gaps in healthcare provision, providing training for healthcare workers, supplying medical equipment and medications, and setting up mobile clinics to reach underserved communities.
• Civil Society can advocate for improved healthcare policies and transparency in healthcare funding, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and equitably.

Promoting Preventative Measures

• All three can collaborate on vaccination campaigns to protect against pneumonia and measles. Education campaigns to promote breastfeeding, proper nutrition, and hygiene practices can also substantially impact the situation.
• NGOs and civil society can support the distribution of mosquito nets and conduct awareness campaigns on their use to prevent malaria, a leading cause of child mortality.

Improving Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

• Governments can invest in infrastructure to provide clean water and sanitation facilities, which are crucial for preventing diarrheal diseases and improving overall health.
• NGOs frequently engage in WASH projects, constructing toilets and facilitating access to clean water through wells and filtration systems.
• Civil Society can mobilise community involvement in maintaining and protecting water and sanitation infrastructure and promote hygiene practices.

Ensuring Food Security and Nutritional Support

• Initiatives to improve access to nutritious food can significantly impact child health. Governments can implement policies and programs to support agricultural productivity, subsidise essential foods, and ensure nutritional programs reach vulnerable populations.
• NGOs may provide direct food aid, support school feeding programs, and teach sustainable farming techniques to communities.
• Civil Society can raise awareness about malnutrition, advocate for policy changes, and support community-based nutrition and gardening projects.

Education and Empowerment

• Educating girls and women has a profound impact on child health outcomes. Governments can ensure equal access to education, while NGOs can provide scholarships or support for girls’ education.
• Civil society, including local communities and parent groups, can advocate for educational reforms and support initiatives that empower women and girls.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

• Civil society organisations can lobby for policies prioritising child health, including environmental protections to reduce pollution and combat climate change, which impacts children’s health.
• They can also be crucial in holding governments and international bodies accountable for their commitments to child health and rights

Collaboration across these sectors is crucial for creating sustainable change. By pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and coordinating efforts, governments, NGOs, and civil society can significantly reduce child mortality rates and improve health outcomes for children in low-income countries. Their combined efforts can address the root causes of child mortality, ensuring that children have the chance to lead healthy, productive lives.

Concluding

The stark reality of child mortality in low-income countries, particularly among infants aged 0 to 5, represents a profound global health challenge. Yet, as outlined, the breadth of low-cost, highly effective interventions available to combat this crisis offers a beacon of hope. These interventions, ranging from vaccinations and exclusive breastfeeding to access to clean water and nutritional supplements, underscore a critical truth: the power to reduce child mortality significantly is well within our grasp.

Moreover, the detailed strategies for pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, malaria, neonatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies illustrate a clear path forward. The low-cost solutions presented are feasible and offer a high return on investment regarding lives saved and improved health outcomes. The role of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in treating malaria, the impact of skilled birth attendance on neonatal survival, and the potential of vitamin A supplementation to bolster child health further highlight the array of tools at our disposal.

The task ahead requires a concerted effort from governments, NGOs, and civil society. Through increased funding, the implementation of health programs, advocacy, and education, these stakeholders can change the trajectory of child health in low-income countries. The call to action is clear: by embracing these low-cost interventions and fostering collaboration across sectors, we can address the root causes of child mortality and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

This collective endeavour presents a compelling opportunity to redefine the future for millions of children in low-income countries. As we move forward, let the narrative of child mortality be one not of despair but of hope, action, and profound transformation. Together, we can turn the tide against these preventable tragedies, paving the way for a healthier, brighter future for the world’s most vulnerable populations.

The post Main Cause of Death in Infants Ages Zero to Five in Low-Income Countries; Hope for a Better Future appeared first on Medika Life.

It was a move that supercharged my mission to make a difference in the world. It sparked a passion for providing people with a better shot at prosperity by improving access to health services, often by working in some of the world’s most challenging places.

My public health journey has had a lot of high points and reached another milestone this week with the launch of the FINN Partners Global Health Impact Group dedicated to harnessing the potential for health to catalyze economic growth in emerging markets and underserved communities around the world.

Looking back, I could not have wished for a better time to shift to public health. I started my career working in the consumer goods sector in Southeast Asia when countries there were the hottest economies around. This background and my corporate experience in the U.S. prepared me to blend traditional marketing and communications practices with the real-world challenges that confronted me in DR Congo and many other African and Asian countries where I would later work.

In the years since I moved to Kinshasa, a historic shift in the balance of power has gained momentum as traditionally poor and middle-income countries – nations whose citizens make roughly between $1,100 and $13,000 per year – gain prominence on the global economic stage.

“The rise of the rest,” as author and CNN Commentator Fareed once called this phenomenon, captures the growth of the group of low- and middle-income countries that now contribute almost 34 trillion dollars to the global economy, nearly one-third of total worldwide output, according to the World Bank.  To highlight the tremendous pace that developing countries have set over the past two decades, consider:  Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as reported by the International Monetary Fund, increased at an average rate of 4 percent among developing economies, compared with an average just under 2 percent growth for advanced countries.

While the astounding population growth of young African consumers has not yet translated to an economic boom, as global health communication advocate Mark Chataway notes, I remain optimistic that the dynamic growth we need to drive the global economy will come from the future markets of Africa and Asia.

The emergence of lower-income consumers as a major market force in these two regions offers tremendous opportunities for companies that can re-tool their marketing mix from a model that has traditionally targeted the most affluent one billion people on the planet to one that efficiently reaches the following several billion people.

While this idea isn’t new, it warrants renewed interest and investment in a post-pandemic, highly fractured world flirting with a rejection of globalism in favor of economically ruinous national isolationism.

Here’s why U.S. companies need to deepen their engagement with emerging markets: As incomes continue to rise in more than 100 countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, so too will the demand for better healthcare, convenience products, electronics, and household staples, to name a few categories. 

How can organizations most effectively and sustainably succeed in this environment? In evaluating strategies for entry and sustainable management in many emerging markets, companies should consider establishing alliances with an unlikely resource: leading Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating locally. 

Building public-private partnerships between corporate and non-profit organizations can benefit both groups working in nascent and emerging markets. NGOs can often provide sharp insight into consumer habits and preferences, access to government influencers, and opportunities to build significant goodwill, brand recognition, and loyalty among local communities through the effective sponsorship of corporate social responsibility projects.

A strategic alliance between non-profits and companies also offers a less threatening means for global firms to operate in a new country than through the development of a venture with a local company in the same industry, a potential competitor that could receive protection from a host government down the road.

International and locally based NGOs have operated in developing countries for decades and have learned through tough lessons what works and what will often lead to failure.  Working with lean budgets and staff, many of these organizations have succeeded in grassroots outreach, communications, mobilization, and behavior change within population segments, often well outside of conventional marketing channels.  Those segments define the middle and bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers now sought after by multinational firms trying to build their brands and sustain competitive advantage in emerging markets.

At the same time, many non-profit organizations now view partnerships with the private sector as essential to their long-term ability to fulfill their mission of serving local populations.  Highly effective corporate responsibility programs have become mainstream in emerging markets as companies work with NGOs to contribute goodwill to needy populations while also meeting operational interests, such as improving employee and community health or safeguarding valuable natural resources that drive local economies.

The power of partnerships can offer three areas of strategic advantage to firms entering developing markets, particularly in Africa and South Asia:

• 360^o Market Data: Rather than relying solely on outside research firms, companies can work with NGO partners to round out their understanding of the consumer landscape in a new country, mainly when vital economic and cultural elements are in play. By operating in poorer communities and managing customer research and outreach operations over several years, NGOs often have a ready-built network of communities for private companies to engage as part of their market shaping.  These communities may deliver a more representative study sample, and the methodology for any consumer research efforts will be more informed through the input that NGOs and local community representatives can offer. At the same time, NGOs need more sophisticated marketing and outreach tools, particularly in segmenting populations, to deliver more relevant messaging.  These are areas of technical expertise that private sector partners can share.

• Access to Government Decision Makers: The emergence of mainstream consumerism in developing countries alters how some governments can support private sector development and direct foreign investment. Local and international NGOs have valuable insights regarding which government contacts are most appropriate to engage and how best to work with them. Money may talk in emerging markets, but transparent relationships with key government decision-makers are paramount for long-term operational success and competitive advantage. NGOs are an integral resource for helping companies to forge these government relationships. Correspondingly, the changing world of international aid requires NGOs to develop multilateral funding streams. Public-private partnerships offer a means for NGOs to build greater credibility and differentiation by demonstrating that they have the project scope and capacity to appeal to a broad base of donors.

• Brand Equity Development: Corporate responsibility programs offer a platform for companies to create brand awareness and loyalty in new markets while building goodwill in under-resourced populations. A partnership with an NGO operating in a developing country provides the opportunity to identify projects that meet a community’s social needs and the sponsoring company’s interests. NGOs undertaking projects may also gain positive recognition through such partnerships, particularly in countries where the reputations of development organizations have suffered from aid fatigue.

The risks are significant for firms venturing into low- and middle-income markets.  Market data, local relationships, and flexible operating models are indispensable resources, as are the right alliances.  Before relying on traditional approaches for assessing new market opportunities, consider how successful engagement and communication with NGO partners may offer the insights and understanding required for companies to reach efficiently and sustainably some of the most promising but untapped segments of the world’s population.

The post Why Engagement with Emerging Markets Matters More than Ever appeared first on Medika Life.

Doctors still struggled to keep me alive as my fever spiked to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and my resting heart rate hovered around 175. I had multiple intravenous bags of quinine dripped into me, a routine treatment that brought with it the unfortunate risk of sudden cardiac arrest due to my infection while on Larium, a controversial and, in hindsight, ineffective antimalarial drug.

It’s a massive understatement to say malaria sucks, but I am among the lucky ones who get to say it at all. Malaria remains one of the greatest public health threats facing humanity, infecting 241 million people each year and inflicting incalculable damage on the economic prospects of endemic countries. If my description of malaria sounded bad, how could a 4-year-old kid battle the disease without most of the resources I had in Kinshasa? Most of the 500,000 people killed yearly by malaria are children under 5 – a vicious toll on future generations.

That’s why this week’s announcement by the WHO approving the use of a second malaria vaccine is astoundingly good news. Since the introduction last year of Mosquirix, the first-ever malaria vaccine brought to market by GSK last year, health officials have been trying to balance the limitations of the vaccine – both in efficacy and supply – with the high cost and urgency to get it distributed. With the approval of R21/Matrix-M, developed by the Serum Institute of India, Oxford University and Novavax, comes the potential for greater price competition and sufficient supply.

The news couldn’t come soon enough. As climate change expands the habitat of malaria-carrying mosquitos, two issues are rapidly emerging. First, regions that have been malaria-free for decades – or have never experienced malaria – will be in the projected range of vector-borne diseases within a matter of years. These include North America and parts of Europe. At the same time, the overuse of prophylactic medications, such as chloroquine-based drugs, is fueling increased resistance in regions such as Southeast Asia.

Second, malaria primarily afflicts rural communities in many areas where malaria is endemic. No longer. Researchers are now tracking new forms of malaria that are settling in densely populated urban areas. This is a potential tectonic shift in the threat that vector-borne disease poses to sustainable economic development and health system resilience. Seasonal outbreaks may crash worker productivity, shutter universities, and overwhelm hospitals.

The two approved malaria vaccines may help prevent the worst-case scenario looming in our future, but they are not solutions by themselves; they are part of a Swiss Army knife of tools that public health officials are deploying to contain malaria. Some, like insecticide-treated bed nets, provide trusted, low-cost and accessible interventions for low-income populations worldwide. Other theoretical options, such as genetically modifying male mosquitos or making humans “invisible” to the insects, may prove more effective in grabbing headlines than protecting communities. But with more volatile weather patterns and increased resistance fueling a surge in malaria mosquitos, nothing should be off the table or dismissed out of hand.

Why is malaria prevention more than a feel-good development story? The answer to that question lies in a simple calculus. Most of the potential for future economic growth will come from markets in the Global South. Several countries in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia represent a surge in young, increasingly educated and upwardly mobile consumers. The rise of megacities and other large urban centers can focus economic productivity, but such concentration also dramatically increases the impact of widespread, uncontrolled disease outbreaks.

The implications for the business community are clear. As we saw with COVID-19, the potential for disease outbreaks to cause prolonged economic disruption is high. And the ripple effects are extensive. Vector-borne diseases such as malaria are not the same as the next pandemic threat, of course. Thankfully we have a variety of tools to prevent and treat malaria.

The imperative now is to make sure we apply a greater sense of urgency and policy support to fund the research and mitigation programs that are necessary to protect vulnerable populations today, as well as the growth markets of tomorrow. This requires the global business community to become vocal champion for public health initiatives that help blunt a future where disease-carrying mosquitos can derail the economic vitality of the next generation of consumers.

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