Dealing with tropical diseases: a geographical perspective

This article suggests how geography can make a meaningful contribution to understanding the challenge of dealing with disease. It explores components of the health landscape through the lens of tropical diseases. Using the examples of Ebola and tungiasis (jiggers), the article illustrates how factors and stakeholders affecting diseases, including physical, social, cultural, economic and political landscapes, contribute to and influence efforts to deal with disease. Taking a geographical perspective the article proposes a holistic model, arguing that more co-ordinated and collaborative approaches are necessary to deal with the complexities of disease responses so that they become more effective and sustainable.