31 January 2025 - 04 February 2025
"Neglected tropical diseases affect approximately 1.5 billion people, whose voices on lived experiences, challenges, and triumphs need to be heard at all levels to inform better health services and access. This exhibition is an opportunity for us to listen and respond to the NTD affected voices."
On behalf of Uniting to Combat NTDs, the University of Edinburgh, and TIBA (Tackling Infections for the Benefit of Africa), the Royal Society of Edinburgh are hosting a free, public exhibition for World NTD Day. Featuring portraits from humanitarian photographer, Marcus Perkins, and short films from award-winning filmmaker, Dr. Barry Gibb, real-life stories from Zimbabwe and Tanzania are brought to the forefront to help inform policy and drive change.
This collection of moving photographs and films were taken as part of a ground-breaking event, organised by TIBA, which brought together people with lived experiences of people with NTDs, highlighting their resilience and their calls for action to be taken to end these preventable conditions.
Image credit: Marcus Perkins
Book your free tickets here now.
Exhibition opening hours
Friday 31 January: 12:00 – 17:00
Monday 3 February: 14:00 – 18:00
Tuesday 4 February: 14:00 – 18:00
World NTD Day, observed on January 30, is a global initiative to raise awareness of the devastating impact of these diseases and the urgent need for greater investment and research into improving health outcomes.
Fortunately, progress has been made in the fight against NTDs, with around 843 million people receiving treatment for an NTD in 2022 alone, and as of October 2024, 54 countries have eliminated at least one NTD.
Organisers
TIBA
TIBA is a partnership between scientists in Edinburgh and institutes in 9 African countries. The partnership aims to harness the expertise and technical capabilities in biomedical and social sciences at the University of Africa and African partners institutes to reduce the burden and threat of infectious diseases in Africa by informing and influencing policy and strengthening health systems. TIBA has a strong focus on NTDs and has contributed the scientific evidence base for the current WHO NTD roadmap.
The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 and officially opened in 1583, it is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities and the sixth-oldest university in continuous operation in the English-speaking world. Edinburgh is ranked among the top universities in the United Kingdom and the world, placed 15th in the QS World University Rankings 2023 and 29th in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022.
For more events taking place on World NTD Day please click here.