East African Sleeping Sickness in Zambia and Zimbabwe – CDC

Sleeping Sickness: A Threat to Sustainable Development

Sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease transmitted by the tsetse fly, which is found exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa.

Types of Sleeping Sickness

There are two types of sleeping sickness: East African and West African. East African sleeping sickness progresses rapidly, usually within one to several weeks of exposure.

Symptoms and Impact

The symptoms of sleeping sickness include headache, fever, fatigue, skin rash, muscle aches, and a chancre (red sore) at the site of the tsetse fly bite. In the late stages of the illness, symptoms of the central nervous system may appear, such as drowsiness, severe headache, mood disorders, behavior change, and endocrine disorders.

If left untreated, sleeping sickness can be fatal.

Sustainable Development Goals and Sleeping Sickness

Sleeping sickness poses a significant threat to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease affects both human health and economic development in the region.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Sleeping sickness directly impacts SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. By causing debilitating symptoms and potentially leading to death, sleeping sickness hinders the progress towards this goal.

SDG 1: No Poverty

Sleeping sickness can contribute to poverty in affected communities. The disease often affects individuals in rural areas who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. When infected, they may be unable to work, leading to a loss of income and increased vulnerability to poverty.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The impact of sleeping sickness on agriculture can also undermine SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Infected individuals may be unable to cultivate crops or tend to livestock, resulting in decreased food production and increased food insecurity.

SDG 4: Quality Education

Children affected by sleeping sickness may face difficulties in accessing education. The disease can lead to cognitive impairments and hinder their ability to attend school regularly, impacting their learning outcomes and hindering progress towards SDG 4.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

By affecting the workforce in rural areas, sleeping sickness can hinder progress towards SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The disease can lead to decreased productivity, loss of income, and increased economic inequalities.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Addressing sleeping sickness requires collaboration and partnerships between governments, international organizations, and local communities. SDG 17 emphasizes the importance of partnerships in achieving the goals, and this is particularly relevant in the case of sleeping sickness, where coordinated efforts are essential for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
   • Indicator: Prevalence of sleeping sickness cases in sub-Saharan Africa.

2. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular, the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology, and financial services, including microfinance.
   • Indicator: Access to healthcare and treatment for sleeping sickness for all individuals, including the poor and vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • Indicator: Collaboration between governments, international organizations, and civil society to combat sleeping sickness through research, prevention, and treatment efforts.

The article highlights the issue of sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, which is caused by a parasite transmitted by an infected tsetse fly. This disease is primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on the content of the article, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

This SDG is directly connected to the issue of sleeping sickness as it aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Target 3.3 specifically focuses on ending the epidemics of neglected tropical diseases, which includes sleeping sickness. The prevalence of sleeping sickness cases in sub-Saharan Africa can serve as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.

2. SDG 1: No Poverty

This SDG is indirectly connected to the issue of sleeping sickness as it aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms. Target 1.4 emphasizes equal rights to economic resources and access to basic services for the poor and vulnerable populations. Access to healthcare and treatment for sleeping sickness, particularly for the poor and vulnerable individuals in sub-Saharan Africa, can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.

3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

This SDG is indirectly connected to the issue of sleeping sickness as it aims to strengthen global partnerships to support the achievement of all the other SDGs. Target 17.17 focuses on promoting effective partnerships between different stakeholders. Collaboration between governments, international organizations, and civil society to combat sleeping sickness through research, prevention, and treatment efforts can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards this target.

Source: wwwnc.cdc.gov