The people of Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, suffer from a host of forgotten, parasitic diseases. Schistosomiasis and Lymphatic Filariasis were defeated long ago in the developed world but still blight the lives of millions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet the drugs which can cure these and other neglected diseases are cheap and safe to use. Now, thousands of ordinary people – farmers and teachers, not doctors – are being recruited to distribute these drugs to millions of their fellow citizens. Their ambitious goal – to eliminate five neglected diseases in just five years.
Keywords: climate change, cuba, climate, megastorm, hurricane