Royal Society of Edinburgh 

30 January 2025

This World NTD Day, we had the privilege of exhibiting photographs and videos capturing the experiences of individuals affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The launch event brought together a diverse group of attendees with a vested interest in NTDs and the power to influence health policy, including policymakers, heads of state, and key organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), The END Fund, and EDCTP. The event also featured speeches from prominent figures dedicated to tackling NTDs.

A significant highlight of World NTD Day 2025 was the launch of our policy brief by Dr. Soce Fall, NTD Director at WHO. The brief provides a comprehensive overview of the NTD landscape in Africa, with a focus on Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Sudan. It incorporates firsthand accounts from individuals living with NTDs, healthcare workers, and their proposed solutions for improving the management of these conditions. The policy brief is informed by insights from the Affected Voices Workshops in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, with a strong call to action aimed at driving policy change.

Adding to the impact of the event, EDCTP3’s Executive Director, Michal Makanga, signed the Kigali Declaration. Originally launched in Rwanda in 2022, this global political commitment seeks to mobilize resources and efforts to eliminate NTDs. By signing, EDCTP formally endorses these critical efforts.

The evening concluded with a dinner featuring additional speeches from key figures, including:

• Lord Sandy Trees, who emphasized the urgency of accelerating efforts to eliminate NTDs.
• Zimbabwe’s Deputy Ambassador to the U.K., Mr. Levi Upenyu Mukono, who underscored the importance of engaging affected communities in NTD control and highlighted TIBA’s commitment to leaving no one behind—a policy that has proven effective in combating NTDs.
• Mrs. Faith Taruvinga, CFO of Delta Philanthropies Group, who spoke about the crucial role of public-private partnerships in African healthcare and the significance of domestic philanthropy. She detailed their NTD control initiatives in Zimbabwe, implemented through the HigherLife Foundation.

View more visuals from the exhibition here.