Infectious Diseases Research in the Global South: Treatments and Treatment Failures

Abstract

The 21st century has brought with it a decentralisation of science, allowing researchers all over the globe to contribute to scientific knowledge production and innovation in increasingly meaningful ways. The Global South, referring loosely to countries of Latin America, Africa, South Asia and South America, holds a large proportion of the world’s human population. These nations have unique challenges to deal with, arising from specific cultural, economic, historical and sociological contexts. A high burden of infectious diseases is one such challenge. In an increasingly connected world, infectious diseases can no longer be thought of as purely local issues. However, there is substantial evidence to show that Low-and-Middle Income Countries (LMICs), many of which are located in the Global South, are likely to bear a majority of the economic and human costs of infectious epidemics. (1) Further, several traditionally ‘neglected tropical diseases’ are endemic in countries of Asia and Africa and have historically attracted lower intellectual and monetary investment. (2) This makes countries of the Global South major stakeholders in scientific and technological advances in the area of Infectious Disease Research.