The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has launched #NoteOlvides, an institutional campaign that uses graphic humour to shine a light on neglected diseases. These include conditions such as Chagas disease, noma, dengue and leishmaniasis, which mainly affect vulnerable communities and still receive too little visibility. The project brings together around 40 cartoonists from Spain and Latin America, each of whom has created an original illustration on a Post-it note to help bring these diseases into the public conversation.
Inspired by the legacy of the cartoonist Antonio Fraguas, Forges, and his well-known phrase “Do not forget…” (“No te olvides…”, in Spanish) the campaign combines culture, awareness-raising and fundraising. The initiative includes exhibitions in Madrid and Barcelona, a charity book published by Lunwerg Editores, and an auction of the original drawings, with the proceeds going to support ISGlobal’s research on malaria and neglected parasitic diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, by the end of 2023 around 1.5 billion people required interventions against at least one neglected tropical disease. These diseases are closely linked to poverty, inequality and lack of access to healthcare, which makes campaigns like this especially relevant in connecting science and society.
In Barcelona, a selection of the works will be on display at the Fujifilm House of Photography from 7 to 11 April, and the original drawings will be auctioned on 10 April through Maza.art. The campaign also invites the public to contribute through donations or by sharing the initiative on social media, helping to support and raise the profile of a field of research that is too often overlooked.
