Dan Izzett wrote this poem while attending ‘The Politics of Disease Framing: Surviving and Overcoming Neglect’, an interdisciplinary workshop hosted by the Centre for Applied Human Rights, York Law School and partners in Geneva, May 2024.
There is a thing called an NTD
It affects a billion
But requires a million
It is seen
It is hidden
It is driven
It feeds on fear
It’s forgotten it’s neglected
It’s rejected it’s undetected
But it has a voice
There is one calling
Often on deaf ears
Often on closed pockets
A billion a million
It is so easy to say
But NTDs are here to stay
Raise a flag and shout it is enough
You have my heart
It is a start
Billions will become millions
No longer neglected
No longer affected
No more hiding
No more shame
No more fear
Harken to the heart cry
Extend an open hand
The advocates voice is heard
Not for him but for them
No longer neglected
No longer affected
Dan is a former civil engineering technician from Zimbabwe. Dan has been disabled by leprosy, and his wife Babs has been affected by leprosy. Together they have have been involved in advocacy work on leprosy for the past 23 years. Most recently, Dan and Babs have been working alongside The Leprosy Mission (Great Britain & Northern Ireland).
Photo credit: Dan Izzett 2024.