Opening Reception for Rio Exhibition

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global health challenge affecting an estimated 200 million people across the world. Often
called a “silent epidemic,” many who contract it often go undiagnosed for years. In Brazil, an estimated three million
people have acquired HCV, yet only about 10-12,000 people a year receive the life-saving medications that they need.
While Brazil’s Ministry of Health has launched an awareness campaign, the major challenge facing the country is access
to effective and affordable medicines.

In August 2014, six Tufts students and six Brazilian students created character-driven, multimedia narratives about Hepatitis
C and the lack of access to effective, affordable medicines. This project was in collaboration with Open Society
Foundations and under the guidance of renowned photojournalists Samuel James and Marizilda Cruppe. This exhibition
is the result of the collection of stories to put a human face to the “Silent Epidemic.”
The full story can be found on the website: www.the-silent-epidemic.com