Stars join forces with Troost-Ekong for World NTD Day

• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Sporting stars from across the globe have united to draw much needed attention to the issue of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa by attending a special event at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Hosted by the END Fund together with the World Health Organization and Reaching the Last Mile, the exhibit will be formally unveiled with a high-level evening reception moderated by Benny Bonsu, award-winning sports broadcaster and UNESCO Fit for Life and Gender Equality Advocate, and include remarks from the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Afghan-Danish professional footballer, physician, and UNESCO Champion for Girls' and Women's Education, Dr. Nadia Nadim, and leaders from the WHO and the governments of Indonesia and the UAE.

Entitled, Reframing Neglect, the exhibition is creatively directed by world-renowned photographer and activist Aida Muluneh and features the work of seven African photographers whose work highlights the causes and effects of NTDs while ensuring the dignity of their subjects.

More than 600 million people in Africa require regular preventative treatment for NTDs, which cause long-term disabilities like severe pain, disfigurement, and blindness and in severe cases can lead to death if left untreated. In addition to health challenges, NTDs can lead to social isolation and stigmatisation that affect both children and adults by reducing the number of years of education completed, future earning potential and overall economic productivity.

Nigerian national team captain, William Troost-Ekong is also supporting the cause, having launched, with the support of the END Fund, his Thrive Africa team on the Game of Our Lives (GOL) social action platform last year, and previously supporting Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health through the creation of public service announcements encouraging greater access to NTD services

'The mission for the Thrive Africa team on GOL is to build a team of social activists who can work together to address the...