Carter Center Lights Up Buildings and Monuments in Atlanta, Southwest Georgia to Mark World NTD Day (Jan. 30)

Landmarks Across the World Join Together to Light Up as a Sign of Unity to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

ATLANTA (Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021) — Jan. 30, 2021, will mark the second annual World NTD Day, highlighting the global community’s commitment to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that cause immeasurable suffering among the world’s most marginalized communities.

On World NTD Day, more than 50 landmarks representing over 25 nations across the world will be lit up to celebrate progress in beating NTDs and to ensure we continue to make these diseases, which affect the world’s most vulnerable populations, a priority. From the Tokyo Tower to the Rome Colosseum to the Pyramids in Egypt, the world will come together to end the neglect of NTDs.

“There should be no such thing as a neglected disease, tropical or otherwise. With the resources, knowledge, and technology available to us today, there is little excuse for millions of people to continue to suffer from these preventable illnesses,” said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who, with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, founded The Carter Center in 1982.

Buildings that will light up in Georgia include The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum (including the Kirbo building on Ponce de Leon Avenue and Sightless Among Miracles statue on the grounds); Emory Rollins School of Public Health (Jumbotron); Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; and The SkyView Atlanta Ferris Wheel located within the Centennial Park District.

Plains, Ga., the home of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, will celebrate by lighting the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm and Main Street in downtown Plains. Georgia Southwestern University will illuminate a statue of Rosalynn Carter on its campus.

The Center also joins with partner Alwaleed Philanthropies to light up Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Other landmarks lighting up in the United States include: the Bloomberg Tower in New York City; the Willis Tower in Chicago; the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C, and the Columbia Center Tower and T-Mobile Stadium in Seattle.

About one in five people around the world are affected by NTDs, which cause immeasurable suffering and can debilitate, disfigure, and may be fatal. Additionally, NTDs may cause or exacerbate mental health conditions.

The Carter Center is a pioneer and a leader in the eradication, elimination, and prevention of NTDs.

The primary color for lighting is orange. Learn more information and view a full list of partners for World NTD Day.

Key hashtags: #WorldNTDDay #BeatNTDs #EndtheNeglect

More information on our NTD work is here:

Carter Center celebrates NTD week »

Guinea worm cases fell 50% in 2020, Carter Center reports »

The Carter Center: Leader in the Eradication and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases »

WHO Launches 2030 NTD Roadmap »

Contact: Rennie Sloan, [email protected]

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Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.