Why Is Sleeping Sickness So Hard To Cure?

The conversation delves into the complexities of sleeping sickness, a neglected tropical disease affecting vulnerable populations in Africa. Experts Dr. Olaf Valverde from DNDi and Dr. Philippe Neau from Sanofi discuss the evolution of treatment, the significance of collaboration between organizations, and the innovative drugs being developed to combat the disease. They emphasize the importance of diagnostics, community engagement, and the ambitious goal of eliminating sleeping sickness by 2030. The conversation delves into the challenges and innovations in diagnosing and treating sleeping sickness, emphasizing the need for effective training, robust health systems, and global commitment to eliminate the disease. The speakers share personal stories that highlight the impact of their work and the importance of maintaining vigilance even after achieving elimination. They stress the necessity of collaboration and the perception of risk in securing funding for ongoing efforts. takeaways Chapters 00:00 Understanding Sleeping Sickness 03:03 The Role of DNDi and Sanofi 06:06 Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating Sleeping Sickness 09:07 Innovations in Treatment: Fexinidazole and Acosiborol 12:07 Collaborative Efforts Towards Elimination by 2030 14:54 The Importance of Diagnostics and Community Engagement 31:56 Innovative Training and Diagnostic Methods 35:10 Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment 39:52 The Importance of Health Systems 41:31 Surveillance and Post-Elimination Strategies 44:23 Perception of Risk and Funding Challenges 50:02 Personal Stories and Impact of Treatment 57:04 The Call for Global Commitment and Unity