Communicable diseases – avoiding unnecessary suffering

A woman researcher checking a test.
The SDC supports research and development projects on new medicines in its fight against neglected tropical diseases. © SDC / John Paul Kay

Communicable diseases create a great deal of human suffering, hinder development and make it more difficult for people to break out of the poverty trap. In order to combat communicable diseases, the SDC prioritises prevention, treatment, and the research and development of new medicines and diagnostic tools. Here the main focus is on malaria, neglected tropical diseases, diarrhoea, acute respiratory illnesses and lung infections. 

The SDC's focus

The SDC contributes to the fight against malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS and neglected tropical diseases through its bilateral and multilateral partnerships.

Malaria

In 2018, a child died of malaria every two minutes – in spite of major progress in this area and the fact that malaria is a preventable and treatable disease.

That is why in countries plagued by malaria the SDC provides funding for mosquito nets, strengthening health systems and promoting local community initiatives.

At the international level it also supports global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, recognised research institutes and public-private partnerships – pioneers in the research and development of prevention methods, treatments and innovative diagnostic tools that can be brought onto the market quickly, in particular for poorer population groups.

The Swiss Malaria Group (SMG) was established on the SDC's initiative in 2007. With the SDC's support, the group brings together research institutes, public institutions, private industry and civil society organisations based in Switzerland.

The SMG's vision is to raise awareness among decision-makers and the Swiss public with the aim of:

  • advancing Switzerland's leading role in the fight against malaria;
  • strengthening research and innovation;
  • combating malaria effectively on the ground.

Neglected tropical diseases

More than a billion people worldwide suffer from neglected tropical diseases such as dengue fever, sleeping sickness and leishmaniosis. Access to medical products for these diseases is often lacking, which affects the poorer sections of a population in particular. That is why the SDC supports public-private partnerships to research and develop new medicines and tools for prevention and diagnostics against such neglected tropical diseases. It also works together with other Swiss federal offices at the international level to advocate improving access to medical products.

HIV/AIDS

The SDC supports HIV/AIDS programmes and prioritises prevention and reducing stigma and discrimination against people who are HIV-positive through its multisectoral approach. The causes and effects of HIV/AIDS go far beyond the health sector and extend to areas such as education, work, nutrition, the law and the economy. That is why Switzerland is committed to a comprehensive approach to the HIV/AIDS problem in all its facets within the framework of sexual and reproductive health and rights. SDC projects in countries with a high HIV/AIDS prevalence address the issue systematically.

Switzerland plays an active role in the global fight against HIV/AIDS by supporting international organisations such as UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Context

A constant threat

Although more than one billion people continue to be affected by neglected tropical diseases, there is often a lack of efficacious and safe treatments – the low purchasing power of the people who are primarily affected by such diseases is hardly an incentive for the research-based pharmaceuticals industry to invest in researching and developing new medicines. That is why the SDC works with public-private partnerships in order to fill this gap.

Resistance

Thanks to international efforts to combat malaria between 2000 and 2018, the number of cases went down by more than a third; the number of malaria-related deaths was even halved. This progress was made possible by massive investments and improved coordination between the global actors. However, resistance to medicines and insecticides is becoming a major problem and threatens to undermine everything that has been achieved so far – unless new, efficacious products can be developed.

In terms of access to medical products, there is international demand for Switzerland's major research capabilities, expertise, products and technologies on offer, which can make a key difference for the sustainable development of a country. The SDC makes all of these assets available in order to help resolve global health issues.

Current projects

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Asset Recovery Strategic Partnerships

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2029

Switzerland supports strategic partners in asset recovery who provide technical assistance to countries, advocate for international standards, and facilitate knowledge and exchange on international efforts and ongoing cases. The partnerships leverage Switzerland’s potential to influence the agenda more effectively, facilitate the integration of international best practices in ongoing restitution negotiations, and help ensure that returned assets benefit the populations of states of origin.


Backstopping support for SDC’s Cluster Green thematic Knowledge Networks A+FS, CDE and RésEAU

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028

As a globally active knowledge-based organisation, SDC is critically dependent on effective and efficient knowledge management. SDC’s thematic networks sit at the heart of this endeavour, rendering an essential service across the organisation and its partners by connecting network members, collecting and processing information, and retaining and distributing knowledge. State-of-the art backstopping services are essential to this activity, as is close cooperation between SDC’s thematic networks.


Response to Gender-Based Violence 25-29

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2029

In order to fight increasing gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian and conflict contexts, address the root causes in a sustainable way and to contribute to lasting change, Switzerland provides targeted, multi-year funding for GBV prevention and response, and invests in rights-based and survivor-centred projects of three key partners.    


Core Contribution to the Interna-tional Fund for Public Interest Me-dia (IFPIM)

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2028

Public interest media in low- and middle-income countries face existential threats, impact-ing sustainable development and peace. IFPIM is an organization backing the resilience and independence of public interest media. Through SDC’s contribution to IFPIM, Swit-zerland promotes democracy by combating dis- and misinformation and ensuring media freedom and access to reliable information.


FSD Mine and UXO clearance in Kharkiv and Kherson Oblasts (MUCKKO)

01.12.2024 - 31.08.2027

This phase 02 of the project of Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) deploys the full range of mine action activities, to identify the threat of contamination, clear unexploded ordnance and mines, and educate the population to the risks. It resorts to Swiss innovation, mechanical demining machines and dogs. It builds on phase 01, gaining scale in both Kharkiv and Kherson regions and adding a strong component of building local capacity through mentorship of a Ukrainian NGO.


Mental Health for Universal Health Coverage (MH4UHC) – Phase 2

01.11.2024 - 31.10.2028

In low-resource settings, over 75% of people who need mental health support do not have access to adequate services. Co-created with the SDC, the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health responds to this urgent need by scaling up mental health services in community settings, revising mental health legislation, policies, and sharing learnings to advance the world’s mental health agenda. In this second phase, a stronger focus will be put on addressing mental disorders in humanitarian contexts.


RDC, HEKS-EPER, Aide d’urgence intégrée.

01.11.2024 - 31.10.2026

La résurgence des conflits armés en province du Nord Kivu continue d’entrainer des déplacements récurrents des populations, des violences sur les civils, des pertes de moyens d’existence ainsi que des besoins humanitaires importants. Dans une logique de continuité des phases précédentes, ce projet propose une réponse intégrée - sécurité alimentaire, moyens de subsistance, accès, eau/hygiène - pour répondre aux besoins humanitaires urgents et renforcer les mécanismes de résilience de plus que 480’000 personnes.


Fonds humanitaire régional pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre (FHRAOC)

01.11.2024 - 31.10.2025

Le Sahel central est confronté à une crise humanitaire prolongée, complexe et multiforme, marquée par des déplacements de population, l’insécurité alimentaire, des épidémies et les effets du changement climatique (inondations, sécheresse). Par cette contribution, la Suisse soutient le Fonds humanitaire régional pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre, ce qui permettra de répondre aux crises humanitaires dans la sous-région et de mener un plaidoyer efficace dans la localisation et la protection.


Nigeria, UNICEF, Improved access to quality reintegration services for children and women formerly associated with non-state armed groups in Northeast Nigeria.

01.11.2024 - 31.10.2026

Thousands of children and women have exited areas controlled by non-state armed groups in Northeast Nigeria since 2021. The project provides temporary shelter and basic services and  longer-term socio-economic reintegration to this group of civilians and other vulnerable individuals through a package of  multisectoral  assistance.  The  successful  and  sustainable  reintegration  of  these  individuals  is instrumental towards peacebuilding and complements ongoing Swiss work on peace and security.


CULTURESCAPES - phasing out 2024-2025

21.10.2024 - 31.12.2025

The biennial festival CULTURESCAPES enables artists from and around the Sahara to perform and contribute to debates on specific topics relevant to the region, and to find new partners and networks. The festival takes place in several cantons of Switzerland in cooperation with various cuItural institutions. SDC’s contribution enables specific efforts regarding research, co-productions and gives artists visibility, skills and networks to benefit the cultural scene of their countries of origin.


Clean Air China (CAC) Consolidation Phase

15.10.2024 - 15.02.2026

Air pollution poses a  significant challenge  to public health, environmental sustainability and the climate particularly in Asian countries such as China. Knowing the sources of pollution is essential  to  formulate adequate policies. The Swiss Paul Scherrer  Institute  (PSI)  together with  its Chinese  partners from the Institute of Earth Environment (IEE) will transfer an innovative air pollution source identification  model  developed  under  phase  1  and  capacitate  the  cities  to  run  the  model  independently.  


Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)

15.10.2024 - 31.12.2025

The contribution to the WPHF is to support women peacebuilders, humanitarians and human rights defenders working at the forefront of Women, Peace, Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) issues. The WPHF, managed by UN Women, provides funding to local civil society organizations for women’s participation and leadership in situations of conflict and humanitarian crisis, contributing to a nexus approach. 

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