"Neglected"diseases but unrecognised successes-- challenges and opportunities for infectious disease control.

PREVENTION of communicable diseases; DEVELOPING countries; VACCINATION of children; IMMUNIZATION; PEDIATRIC therapy; INFECTION; RESPIRATORY infections; MYCOBACTERIAL diseases; PUBLIC health; HIV infections; AIDS; TUBERCULOSIS; MALARIA; DIARRHEA; THERAPEUTICS; WORLD health; HEALTH policy; INTERNATIONAL cooperation

Presents an opinion on the importance of funding interventions for the overlooked, but often fatal diseases, such as tropical infections, respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases of children. Ability of these more common diseases to kill thousands of the world's poor despite the availability of proven treatments; How the "big-three" diseases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria get the attention of governments and aid groups as well as the lion's share of medical funding of the world; Evidence which shows that treating the under publicized diseases is cost effective and relatively simple; Belief that those making medical policy need to recognize that the costs of controlling "neglected" diseases is a smart investment; Call for funding.