Lstm Redress
design, website and film
REDRESS is a £3.5 million programme led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The project aims to reduce illness, stigma, social exclusion, and poverty caused by severe, stigmatising skin diseases in Liberia.
Liberia is among the first countries in the world to develop a national strategy for managing diseases that affect the skin, marking a major step forward in public health and social inclusion.
To capture the impact of the REDRESS programme, Welton Media joined the LSTM research team in Liberia to document their work and produce a series of informative films showcasing the programme’s achievements and the difference it is making in people’s lives.
Before travelling to Liberia, Stu had to update his vaccinations for malaria, yellow fever, and rabies — leaving him with a sore arm for a few days!
Getting to Liberia isn’t easy, especially with filming equipment, so we had to be selective about what to pack for the eight-day shoot. After checking off batteries, chargers, and memory cards, we were ready to go.
Although we wanted to use a drone for aerial shots, drones are considered high-risk in Liberia due to civil unrest. Instead, we brought an eight-metre telescopic pole with a small camera attached to capture elevated shots safely.
Liberia has high rates of poverty, particularly in rural areas, so we approached filming with care and respect. Before shooting in villages, we met with local leaders to explain our project and gain their trust and permission.
At times, it wasn’t safe to be out in the community with expensive equipment, so we worked quickly — filming confidently and efficiently while always keeping safety in mind.
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has been absolutely delighted with the outcome. Through this project, we’ve been able to tell people’s stories and weave them into an informative narrative that supports vital research. Our videos will be shown around the world, highlighting the tremendous impact that Redress has had in Liberia. This programme will now be expanded to other areas of Africa.
We are proud to have played our part in helping other countries gain valuable insights into Redress, thereby supporting more people to learn about and address neglected tropical diseases.