That, I think we can all agree, is no way to start the school year.

In fact, at least 1.6 million children from developing countries won't be starting school this year, because they died over the past year from diseases related to lack of sanitation and safe drinking water. In all, nearly 300 million school days will be lost to these illnesses. An entire generation, and with it, their future economic contributions, lost to a completely preventable cause.

These are just a few examples of desperately needed medical breakthroughs.  Yet, despite strong support from both scientific and political communities, progress towards these goals, along with many others, has been slow.  So, when a much needed breakthrough becomes available in record time (at least by global health standards), it’s cause not only for celebration, but for decisive action to ensure that we take full advantage of the opportunity to save millions of lives around the world.