Læknablaðið - 15.12.2011, Blaðsíða 33

Y F I R L I T
utanríkisþjónustu ríkis á borð við ísland, hvort sem það hefur
orðið fyrir tímabundnum skakkaföllum eða ekki, sé þróunarsam-
vinna.
Einfaldar forvarnir eins og þær sem framkvæma má með þró-
unaraðstoð krefjast augljóslega ekki sérhæfðrar læknisfræðilegrar
kunnáttu. Þær forvarnaraðgerðir má telja til almennrar baráttu
gegn fátækt í heiminum. Fjöldalyfjagjafir hafa einnig þann kost
að vera einfaldar í framkvæmd, svo sérfræðikunnáttu er ekki þörf
við dreifingu lyfja. Því er það ekki svo að læknar þurfi að vera
staddir á vettvangi til að hafa áhrif á framvindu sjúkdómanna sem
um ræðir. Hins vegar koma gefendur fjármuna til VSÞ úr ýmsum
áttum og hafa ekki alltaf forsendur til að meta í hvers konar verk-
efni fjármagn vantar helst. Læknar, bæði hérlendis og erlendis,
þurfa því að nýta áhrif sín og þekkingu til að leiðbeina gefendum
og vera málsvari smitaðra, svo þessi vanrækti sjúklingahópur fái
viðunandi greiningu, forvarnir og meðferð. íslendingar hafa allar
forsendur til að vera mun virkari á þessum sviðum en nú. Við
höfum mannafla, þekkingu, fjármuni og síðast en ekki síst áhuga.
Fátt væri okkur verðugra en að nýta hann betur.
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ENGLISH SUMMARY
Neglected tropical diseases - review
Kristjansson J, Gudmundsson S
Neglected tropical diseases include a variety of infectious diseases. This review shortly describes the most common diseases. Those infected usually
live at a low socioeconomic status and rarely have access to satisfactory health care. The neglected diseases are common and have a high burden
of disease. In comparison to HIV, malaria and tuberculosis this group of diseases is in fact neglected. Certain diseases within the group are more
neglected than others. Investment for research does not appear to be decided in proportion to burden of disease. Much can be gained by exterm-
ination of these diseases. The solution is to integrate improvement of living standards and battling diseases. Iceland has a role to play.
Key words: Neglected tropical diseases, DALY, development aid.
Correspondence: Július Kristjánsson, juk2@hi.is
LÆKNAblaðið 2011/97 697