Poverty and disease go hand in hand. The poor are often malnourished and lack basic sanitation. The result is reduced resistance to malaria, HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and a host of other life-threatening conditions.
Conversely, anyone who falls ill cannot work to earn an income; they descend into even deeper poverty. It is a vicious circle which, as long experience has shown, is extremely difficult to break.
The eradication of poverty-related diseases, such as malaria, HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, remains high on the agenda of both the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The European Union has also pledged its help, with objectives stated in documents such as the Programme for Action: accelerated action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the context of poverty reduction (2001). Despite the global initiatives, however, poverty-related disease remains a major concern.
The 'Global human health' project evaluated the various EU initiatives intended to combat poverty-related diseases on the basis of a number of recent reports. An expert meeting resulted in the publication of a report, Extending the pipeline: towards a comprehensive and coordinated EU approach to poverty-related diseases, which includes a number of recommendations for further action by the European Union.