Lepra.

Help fund vital projects raising awareness of leprosy

Dear  All I hope you are well. You may already be familiar with the Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative Young Scholar Programme funded by the Sasakawa Health Foundation. The programme supports people affected by leprosy to develop leadership skills, gain financial autonomy and become pivotal players in shaping solutions within their communities.  This month, our Young Scholars in Bangladesh participating in the programme have been busy helping to raise awareness of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis. One exciting initiative they recently took part in is a photography competition titled, ‘NTDs Through the Lens: Stories of Risk, Resilience and Response.’ Organised by a group of international non-governmental organisations, the chosen photos will mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day 2027. When taking their photos, the Young Scholars were asked to consider: Where do environmental, social, or economic conditions increase the risk of NTDs? And what impact, in turn, do NTDs have on people's daily lives in terms of the economy and society? What does NTD control look like in everyday life? Which tools, practices, or innovations help people prevent, manage, or overcome NTDs and their consequences? How do individuals and communities demonstrate resilience in the face of NTD-related challenges? What story about NTDs do you believe deserves greater visibility? Here is a small selection of the photos taken in preparation for the competition. Every photo tells a story of a person’s journey towards overcoming a neglected tropical disease. You can view more photos here.

Project Manager, Md. Waheduzzaman Polu reflects,  “The Young Scholars were very excited about taking photos for the competition. It felt like a festival for them, with a positive sense of competition among themselves, while also supporting one another to achieve the team’s success.” The Young Scholars’ chosen photos have now been submitted. When the competition results are published, we look forward to sharing their entry photos and the stories behind them.

With your support, we can build on our work with communities affected by NTDs, making sure their voices are heard.   Thank you, Jimmy Innes Chief Executive, Lepra UK