Overlooked and Underfunded: Neglected Enormous Diseases That Threaten Global Health

Despite the constant attention and funding that some of the world’s biggest challenges receive from states and private philanthropies, there are still significant issues that go unnoticed. While climate change, war, and immigration are major global priorities, other important concerns such as tuberculosis and nutrition often slip through the cracks. Even diseases like rabies, river blindness, and leprosy, which are categorized as “neglected tropical diseases” and lead to the deaths of 200,000 people each year in poorer countries, have programs dedicated to them within the World Health Organization. However, one challenge that receives little to no attention despite affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide is a “neglected enormous disease” with a potential for efficient address.