Breaking the vicious cycle of neglected tropical disease and poverty: Addressing social determinants of health is imperative
Imagine that your husband is sentenced to divorce by the highest court in the country while you are pregnant because he has been diagnosed with leprosy.1 Imagine the irony of not getting a government ID because you are indigenous and not recognized as an equal citizen, and that your children suffer from yaws.2 Imagine you are a single mother of two, whose access to quality jobs and education is an uphill battle, due to caste-based oppression, and you’re suddenly at risk of lymphatic filariasis.3 Imagine being sent away from home and not accepted by your neighbors because they (wrongly) believe that your illness stems from your sins and that you are rabid and contagious.4 Now imagine going to sleep stressed and depressed. Let these 5 images sink in for a moment.
