Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
Encyclopedia
The Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (more commonly known as PATH) is an international, nonprofit global health organization based in Seattle, Washington (USA), with 900+ employees in more than 30 offices around the world. Its president and CEO is Dr. Christopher Elias.
PATH’s tagline is "A catalyst for global health."
, PATH soon broadened its purpose to work on a wide array of emerging and persistent global health issues in the areas of health technologies, maternal and child health, reproductive health
, vaccine
s and immunization
, and emerging and epidemic diseases such as HIV
, malaria
, and tuberculosis
.
PATH is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in global health today.
The organization’s mission is "to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors." What is meant? Explanation follows.
s, often acting as a liaison between industry and public-sector agencies.
device, a single-dose, autodisabling injection device consisting of a needle attached to a small bubble of plastic that is prefilled with medication. The device is designed to prevent disease transmission and enable health workers with only a little training to administer vaccine and other drugs in remote villages.
The vaccine vial monitor, a small sticker that adheres to a vaccine vial and changes color as the vaccine is exposed to heat over time. The sticker helps health workers know when a vaccine is potent and when it must be thrown out, resulting in more reliable vaccinations as well as cost savings, because health workers no longer have to throw out vaccine just because they suspect it has gone bad. UNICEF
requires these monitors on all vaccines it purchases. PATH has estimated that between 2010-20, vaccine vial monitors will identify 230 million doses of inactive vaccines assist in the delivery of 1.4 billion active doses.
PATH is working with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to support the development of vaccines for diseases such as malaria
and meningitis
. The Meningitis Vaccine Project
developed and implemented a product called MenAfriVac
which, in 2011, eliminated new cases of meningitis in areas where it was used.
In 2011, PATH announced the public release of a vaccine which would prevent the spread of a strain of meningitis found only in Africa. This marks the first time that a vaccine was developed for a disease only found in Africa.The use of the vaccine is widespread in Burkina Faso
, Mali
and Niger
. Previously used meningitis vaccines had low efficacy and cost USD $80 per dose; the new vaccine has high efficacy and costs $0.50 per dose. The entire vaccination research and development project cost USD $100 million.
PATH researcher John Wecker noted that rotavirus
infections dropped in areas which began to use the vaccine after the WHO
recommended its international use in 2009.
is a “one size fits most” contraceptive device. The device differs from traditional latex diaphragms in that it is made of silicone instead of latex, designed to hold up to extreme temperatures and poor storage conditions common in developing countries, and will not require a doctor’s fitting.
A new female condom
that is designed to be more affordable than other female condoms, plus easier to use, more stable, less noisy, and more comfortable.
For example, PATH is working with India
and other countries in the region to introduce an affordable vaccine to protect against Japanese encephalitis
—a disease the World Health Organization
estimates claims 10,000 to 15,000 lives a year, mostly children, and causes permanent brain damage in many more.
PATH is also working with the Government of Zambia
and other partners to control malaria
on a large scale through proven interventions such as mosquito net
s, insecticide, and medication.
, India
, Vietnam
, and other developing countries. Named because of its natural pulling power, this interactive street theater draws people in rural communities to clearings, dirt roads, and village centers—any open space where people can gather. There, actors banter with their audiences and pull them into the play, stimulating dialogue about HIV/AIDS and other taboo subjects and helping individuals re-examine social norms, such as promiscuity, that may contribute to poor health.
PATH is currently working in more than 70 countries.
Named one of the 200 largest US charities by Forbes
in 2007, PATH receives funding from foundations, the US government, other governments, nongovernmental organizations
, multilateral agencies, and individuals. PATH's budget for 2010 was more than USD $250 million.
In 2008, PATH was the recipient of the most foundation grants in the state of Washington and the third largest recipient in America for the same.
Charity Navigator
, America’s largest independent evaluator of nonprofits, awarded PATH its highest rating, four stars, for sound fiscal management.
.
In 2005, Dr. Christopher Elias, PATH's president and CEO, was chosen as the Schwab Foundation
's Social Entrepreneur
of the Year in the United States.
For five years running, Fast Company
magazine has named PATH as one of the top social entrepreneurs
who are changing the world.
In 2003, PATH received the Tech Museum
’s Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni Health Award for its work on the Uniject device, a sterile pre-filled, single-use syringe.
Since 2005 PATH has been on Forbes
' list of the 200 largest charities in America. In 2009
PATH’s tagline is "A catalyst for global health."
History
Founded in 1977 with a focus on family planningFamily planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
, PATH soon broadened its purpose to work on a wide array of emerging and persistent global health issues in the areas of health technologies, maternal and child health, reproductive health
Reproductive health
Within the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
, vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s and immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
, and emerging and epidemic diseases such as HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
, malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, and tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
PATH is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in global health today.
PATH’s work
PATH's expressed vision is "a world where innovation ensures that health is within reach for everyone."The organization’s mission is "to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors." What is meant? Explanation follows.
Advancing technologies
PATH is best known for adapting technologies to address the health needs of developing countries. The organization engages in public-private partnershipPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
s, often acting as a liaison between industry and public-sector agencies.
Vaccination projects
The UnijectUniject
Uniject is a disposable, pre-filled, single-use syringe which was developed to promote vaccination in developing countries. It was developed by PATH as part of the solution to the problem of delivering vaccines to areas which have insufficient medical workers to meet the needs of traditional,...
device, a single-dose, autodisabling injection device consisting of a needle attached to a small bubble of plastic that is prefilled with medication. The device is designed to prevent disease transmission and enable health workers with only a little training to administer vaccine and other drugs in remote villages.
The vaccine vial monitor, a small sticker that adheres to a vaccine vial and changes color as the vaccine is exposed to heat over time. The sticker helps health workers know when a vaccine is potent and when it must be thrown out, resulting in more reliable vaccinations as well as cost savings, because health workers no longer have to throw out vaccine just because they suspect it has gone bad. UNICEF
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
requires these monitors on all vaccines it purchases. PATH has estimated that between 2010-20, vaccine vial monitors will identify 230 million doses of inactive vaccines assist in the delivery of 1.4 billion active doses.
PATH is working with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to support the development of vaccines for diseases such as malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. The Meningitis Vaccine Project
Meningitis Vaccine Project
The Meningitis Vaccine Project is an effort to eliminate the meningitis epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa by developing a new meningococcal vaccine. The meningitis problem in that area is caused by a strain of meningitis called "meningitis A", which is only present in the African meningitis belt...
developed and implemented a product called MenAfriVac
MenAfriVac
MenAfriVac is a vaccine developed for use in sub-Saharan Africa that protects people 1 to 29 years of age against meningococcal bacterium Neisseria meningitidis group A. MenAfriVac costs under US$.50 per dose and reduces carriage of the bacteria from one person to another...
which, in 2011, eliminated new cases of meningitis in areas where it was used.
In 2011, PATH announced the public release of a vaccine which would prevent the spread of a strain of meningitis found only in Africa. This marks the first time that a vaccine was developed for a disease only found in Africa.The use of the vaccine is widespread in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
and Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
. Previously used meningitis vaccines had low efficacy and cost USD $80 per dose; the new vaccine has high efficacy and costs $0.50 per dose. The entire vaccination research and development project cost USD $100 million.
PATH researcher John Wecker noted that rotavirus
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children, and is one of several viruses that cause infections often called stomach flu, despite having no relation to influenza. It is a genus of double-stranded RNA virus in the family Reoviridae. By the age of five,...
infections dropped in areas which began to use the vaccine after the WHO
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
recommended its international use in 2009.
Daily life innovations
Ultra Rice, a manufactured, nutrition-fortified "grain" that can be mixed with rice to fight malnutrition in countries where rice is a staple food. Made of rice flour, micronutrients, and nutrient-protecting ingredients, Ultra Rice can mimic the look and taste of local rice and deliver the specific micronutrients a population needs.Sexual health devices
SILCS diaphragmSILCS diaphragm
The SILCS diaphragm is a silicone barrier contraceptive device which is inserted vaginally to cover the cervix. The SILCS device was developed by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health and SILCS, Inc...
is a “one size fits most” contraceptive device. The device differs from traditional latex diaphragms in that it is made of silicone instead of latex, designed to hold up to extreme temperatures and poor storage conditions common in developing countries, and will not require a doctor’s fitting.
A new female condom
Female condom
A female condom is a device that is used during sexual intercourse as a barrier contraceptive and to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy...
that is designed to be more affordable than other female condoms, plus easier to use, more stable, less noisy, and more comfortable.
Strengthening health systems
PATH partners with developing-country governments to strengthen health systems.For example, PATH is working with India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and other countries in the region to introduce an affordable vaccine to protect against Japanese encephalitis
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis —previously known as Japanese B encephalitis to distinguish it from von Economo's A encephalitis—is a disease caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus. The Japanese encephalitis virus is a virus from the family Flaviviridae. Domestic pigs and wild birds are...
—a disease the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
estimates claims 10,000 to 15,000 lives a year, mostly children, and causes permanent brain damage in many more.
PATH is also working with the Government of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and other partners to control malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
on a large scale through proven interventions such as mosquito net
Mosquito net
A mosquito net offers protection against mosquitos, flies, and other insects, and thus against diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and various forms of encephalitis, including the West Nile virus, if used properly and especially if treated with an insecticide, which can double...
s, insecticide, and medication.
Encouraging healthy behaviors
PATH works to encourage healthy behaviors. One of the best-known examples is the introduction of “magnet theater,” in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and other developing countries. Named because of its natural pulling power, this interactive street theater draws people in rural communities to clearings, dirt roads, and village centers—any open space where people can gather. There, actors banter with their audiences and pull them into the play, stimulating dialogue about HIV/AIDS and other taboo subjects and helping individuals re-examine social norms, such as promiscuity, that may contribute to poor health.
Where PATH works
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, PATH has more than 30 offices in countries around the world.PATH is currently working in more than 70 countries.
Funding and expenses
PATH's expenses in 2009 was USD 257 million, of which 108 was spent among PATH's three vaccination programs. About 80% of the money allotted to vaccine work is passed to sub-grantees.Named one of the 200 largest US charities by Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
in 2007, PATH receives funding from foundations, the US government, other governments, nongovernmental organizations
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, multilateral agencies, and individuals. PATH's budget for 2010 was more than USD $250 million.
In 2008, PATH was the recipient of the most foundation grants in the state of Washington and the third largest recipient in America for the same.
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Its stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities."-About:...
, America’s largest independent evaluator of nonprofits, awarded PATH its highest rating, four stars, for sound fiscal management.
Recognition
In 2009, PATH received the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian PrizeConrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is an American non-profit charitable foundation, established in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur Conrad N. Hilton. It remained relatively small until his death on January 3, 1979 when it was named the principal beneficiary of his estate...
.
In 2005, Dr. Christopher Elias, PATH's president and CEO, was chosen as the Schwab Foundation
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship provides platforms at the country, regional and global levels to promote social entrepreneurship.- History :...
's Social Entrepreneur
Social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is the work of social entrepreneurs. A social entrepreneur recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to achieve social change . While a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a...
of the Year in the United States.
For five years running, Fast Company
Fast Company (magazine)
Fast Company is a full-color business magazine that releases 10 issues per year and reports on topics including innovation, digital media, technology, change management, leadership, design, and social responsibility...
magazine has named PATH as one of the top social entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is the work of social entrepreneurs. A social entrepreneur recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to achieve social change . While a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a...
who are changing the world.
In 2003, PATH received the Tech Museum
The Tech Museum of Innovation
The Tech Museum of Innovation, or simply The Tech, is a museum located in the heart of Silicon Valley, in downtown San Jose, California USA.-History:...
’s Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni Health Award for its work on the Uniject device, a sterile pre-filled, single-use syringe.
Since 2005 PATH has been on Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
' list of the 200 largest charities in America. In 2009
See also
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- PhilanthropyPhilanthropyPhilanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
- SILCS diaphragmSILCS diaphragmThe SILCS diaphragm is a silicone barrier contraceptive device which is inserted vaginally to cover the cervix. The SILCS device was developed by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health and SILCS, Inc...
- World Health OrganizationWorld Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
- Concept FoundationConcept FoundationThe Concept Foundation is a non-profit foundation which was established by the UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/WB Special program in Reproductive Health , PATH, the World Bank in 1989 in Bangkok, Thailand, "as a mechanism through which WHO’s rights associated with an injectable contraceptive, Cyclofem, could be...