Edinburgh global health experts are seeking to catalyse action to combat preventable diseases that affect around 1.5 billion people worldwide. University researchers have jointly organised an exhibition to raise awareness of the urgent need to tackle so-called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).This group of 21 disorders – which are widespread in some of the world’s poorest regions – lead to thousands of preventable deaths every year and help perpetuate cycles of poverty, researchers say. Public exhibition To coincide with World NTD Day on 30 January, a public exhibition of images and videos of personal stories of people living with NTDs is being held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The free exhibition – organised with the Royal Society of Edinburgh and NGO Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases – takes place from 31 January to 4 February. Accelerating action Professor Francisca Mutapi, of the University’s School of Biological Sciences and one of the organisers, says researchers in Scotland can play an important role in efforts to combat the impact of NTDs.Scotland’s research community has a rich history of battling tropical diseases, and it now needs to accelerate research, advocacy and control efforts, says Professor Mutapi, who is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.The exhibition organisers are also calling for wider endorsement of the Kigali Declaration of 2022, which aims to spur significant progress in the battle against NTDs over the next five years. I implore everyone to personally endorse the Kigali Declaration. Encourage your MSP and your MP to endorse it and call upon your community leaders to do the same. Public opinion and political momentum are the key weapons we have in turning global attention to the scourge of NTDs. Former President Jimmy Carter, who died last month, put it succinctly: there are no neglected diseases only neglected people. This exhibition is one way we are ensuring that this neglect is not perpetuated. Professor Francisca Mutapi Professor of Global Health, Infection and Immunity Emerging threats As of December 2024, 54 countries have eliminated at least one NTD - more than halfway towards a World Health Organization goal of seeing 100 countries eliminate at least one NTD by 2030.Professor Mutapi says controlling these diseases allows health systems in affected countries to allocate more resources to disease surveillance to they can detect new or emerging threats sooner.Early detection of new disease threats also enhances global health security, Professor Mutapi adds. While NTDs mainly affect tropical and subtropical regions, there is evidence some are spreading to more widely, including to parts of Europe and the United States, driven by factors such as climate change, globalisation and migration. Neglected tropical diseases are a global challenge that demands a unified and immediate response. The Kigali Declaration represents an extraordinary opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to ending the suffering caused by these diseases. It is a clarion call for governments, research institutions, and civil society to act decisively. By working together, we can transform the lives of the 1.5 billion people affected and create a healthier, more equitable world. Dr Isatou Touray Executive Director, Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases Related links Exhibition - Amplifying affected voices: neglected tropical diseasesRoyal Society of EdinburghUniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases Publication date 30 Jan, 2025
