Many people around the world are suffering from neglected diseases. There are not enough products for disease treatment or prevention and the diseases receive insufficient attention, so those afflicted with these diseases are being left behind.

One of the targets of Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to “end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases,” but the efforts made to achieve this target are still lacking. 

The GHIT Fund supports the product development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases. Through a global partnership between the public and private sectors, it is working to resolve the issues involved in this.

To spread awareness of these neglected diseases, the GHIT Fund has launched “SDGs Talk,” a series of global health discussions with GHIT Fund CEO Osamu Kunii. In these discussions, Dr. Kunii invites guests to share information on aspects of the current global health situation and to think together about how to address global issues.

In the seventh installment of the series, Dr. Kunii welcomes Kurara Chibana, a model and actress who previously served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), bringing her long-standing commitment to hunger and poverty issues in developing countries. From 2007 to 2015, Ms. Chibana traveled to various countries on the frontlines of poverty, where she witnessed the complex realities of malnutrition and educational gaps. Interweaving her frontline insights with Dr. Kunii’s own extensive field experience, this episode offers a profound look into the current landscape of global health.

Focusing on "mycetoma" as a key case study, the discussion sheds light on the devastating "vicious cycle", where poverty accelerates the spread of infectious diseases, and illness further entrenches economic hardship. Central to their conversation is the power of sudden "aha!" moments, which allow us to personalize these distant issues and break the cycle.

Offering powerful hints on how to confront global realities and shape a better future, this dialogue is not to be missed. We invite you to watch the full episode.

Please take a look.

"SDGs Talk" Global Health Discussion with Osamu Kunii - Vol. 1 – Ken Noguchi

"SDGs Talk" Global Health Discussion with Osamu Kunii - Vol. 2 – Sawako Agawa

"SDGs Talk" Global Health Discussion with Osamu Kunii - Vol. 3 – Jun Hori

"SDGs Talk" Global Health Discussion with Osamu Kunii - Vol. 4 – Keiko Kojima

"SDGs Talk" Global Health Discussion with Osamu Kunii - Vol. 5 – Ryota Fujimaki

"SDGs Talk" Global Health Discussion with Osamu Kunii - Vol. 6 – Kaori Futenma