Science Preventing Infectious Disease

ANIS Science Preventing Infectious Disease Question

Assignment: Preventing Infectious Disease

The enormous diversity of microorganisms in our environment, as well as their ability to adapt and evolve to changing conditions, makes it extremely difficult to control and prevent infectious disease. Both governmental and non-governmental organizations are continually developing measures to try and prevent the spread of disease, as well as minimize the effects of existing disease epidemics and pandemics. In poor countries, where measures of disease surveillance and detection, and access to vaccines and medicines are limited, the impact of infectious disease is even greater. One goal of the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation, an international nongovernment organization (NGO), is to eliminate thyphoid fever as a public health problem by 2035. Typhoid fever is a disease resulting from a bacterial infection. Symptoms of typhoid include high fevers lasting for long periods, weakness, stomach pains, and headache. Typhoid fever is common in parts of the unindustrialized world, including Asia, Africa, and Latin America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 22 million cases of typhoid fever and 200 000 related deaths annually. The strategy of this foundation focuses primarily on the development of a new vaccine that can be administered to children under 2. This new vaccine will have a longer duration of protection than the current vaccine. Additional areas of work under the typhoid initiative include improving surveillance systems to measure the impact of the disease in South Asia and Africa. A toolkit, including safe drinking water, sanitation interventions, and the vaccine, is also in development for high burdened areas.

 Instructions

Your task is to pick one international NGO and research one initiative or campaign of this organization to aid in the spread of infectious disease. You may choose an NGO from the list below, or research one of your own. If you choose to research an NGO not in the list, you may want to email your teacher to ensure you have selected an appropriate organization.

 International NGOs ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

World Health Organization (WHO)

OXFAM

Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH)

The Stephen Lewis Foundation

Medecin sans Frontieres

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Accordia Global Health Foundation

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

RAFT Categories

Answer the following questions about the initiative or campaign, presenting your research in the format of your choice. Follow the RAFT categories below to help you organize your writing:

R—Role of the Writer: Who are you as a writer? Are you a member of the press, a teacher, a member of the organization?

A—Audience: To whom are you writing to? The general public, a student, a politician, etc.?

F—Format: How will you present the material? In a letter, a brochure, a newspaper article, a blog, a Facebook page?

T—Topic: What are you writing about? Include the answers below in your presentation.

 Questions Answer the questions below on your chosen international NGO.

1. Who is the organization? Provide some background on the organization (e.g. history, members, mission statements, etc.)  

2. What disease is the initiative/campaign helping to prevent or control? Describe the pathogen responsible for the infection, as well as how it is spread, symptoms, and prevalence of the disease.

3. What geographic region is the target of the campaign?

4. What specific actions are the NGO taking to fight the spread of the disease? Assessment Details Your submission should include the following:

 ? Your answers to the questions written in your own words and RAFT format.

? All in-text citations and a reference list according to the APA style guide for sources used in your assignment.