Awareness activities

The Fusco lab group is 100% committed to fight neglected tropical diseases. Communication is a key element in this fight. We believe that to take these diseases out of the neglect more dissemination and information outside the conventional scientific dialogue is essential! Therefore, our group members are engaging in several awareness facilitating activities you can find below.

NTD Day 2023 & 2024 & 2025

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) occur mainly in resource-poor regions of the Global South. They particularly affect the poorest part of the population in already poor countries. These people usually do not have access to adequate medical care, clean drinking water and sufficient nutrition.

On the occasion of World NTD Day 2023, BNITM invited to a talk event at Erika-Haus on the grounds of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). During a panel discussion with scientists, industry stakeholders, NTD affected patients and students many interesting aspects of NTDs were discussed. Afterwards during a photo exhibition, interested participants had the chance to talk to the panelists over a snack. The event was a great success with nearly 70 persons participating. To establish the event as a yearly appointment at the BNITM, the Fusco group engaged in planning the NTD 2024 at the historic lecture hall. Again, the event attracted many interested participants that first listened to interdisciplinary talks about schistosomiasis, snakebites and buruli ulcer and had the opportunity to talk to the scientists afterwards.

Public Appearances

The Fusco group is always happy to collaborate and contribute on NTD awareness raising non-peer communication. One example of this is this podcast by the BUKO pharma campaign on NTDs that you can find under this link: Vernachlässigte Tropenkrankheiten (NTDs) im Fokus: Schistosomiasis - YouTube
Another example of non-peer communication is the participation of science slams or events like Pint of Science by members of the group

Science slam by Pia Rausche with the title:” The worms of Madagascar” at the Pony Bar in Hamburg ©BNITM

Exhibition: Art from the Globe- Community visions of health ©BNITM

First exhibited at the European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health (ECTMIH) in Hamburg 2025, this exhibition curated by the RG Implementation Research brings together voices of affected communities through art on topic such as COVID-19, Schistosomiasis, HIV/ AIDS, HPV and cervical cancer as well as impressions from higher education courses. Exploring perceptions of health through a broad range of age groups from school child to adult, this exhibition shows the power of health communication and community centered projects.