Barcelona institute pioneer the fight against the vicious cycle of poverty and disease

The centre, the result of a pioneering project in Spain and much of Europe, will be a reality in a couple of months.

Barcelona institute pioneer the fight against the vicious cycle of poverty and disease

Breaking the vicious circle of poverty that leads to disease and causes the death of millions in the poorest countries is the challenge of the new Global Health Institute (ISG) in Barcelona, which, led by Dr. Pedro Alonso, aims to become a world benchmark.

The institute, based in Barcelona at the Palau Macaya, is promoted by the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Clinic Hospital, Universitat de Barcelona and the Fundació La Caixa, and chaired by Cristina Infanta. The centre, the result of a pioneering project in Spain and much of Europe, will be a reality in a couple of months.

The aim is to use this institute, which will join the efforts already being made in different areas, to combat neglected diseases in the developed world but that decimate the population in the poorest countries such as malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.

Pedro Alonso, the current director of the Centre for the International Health Research of Barcelona (CRESIB), pointed out today that only 10% of the research conducted is aimed at combating 90% of the diseases affecting the world population.

"The globalization of health does not benefit the poorest countries and Spain can not remain a mere spectator. It is not only a question of solidarity but our health also depends on what happens a few hours flight from here" the researcher warned.

In underdeveloped countries, as emphasized above, the life expectancy of people is 28, and every 160 newborns per thousand do not reach their fifth birthday. In this line, he has called for breaking the vicious circle that makes the sick and the poor poorer and more susceptible to illness.

The new centre aims to combat neglected diseases with an innovative approach based on four areas: research, training, consultancy and the creation of a laboratory of ideas. Alonso considers the creation of a laboratory of ideas as very important, to undertake rigorous analysis independently.

ISGlobal will also have the active collaboration of private organizations such that of Bill Gates, Nelson Mandela’s Children's Fund and the Inbursa Foundation of Mexico, as well as personalities such as former High Representative of the European Union Foreign Policy, Javier Solana.



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