The Uncounted: A Photographic Project by Juan Arredondo
A new exhibition at the Photoville festival in Brooklyn, New York, sheds light on a hidden global crisis. "The Uncounted" features the stories of people who lack official life cycle records—such as birth or death certificates. The exhibit is open through May 30.
An estimated 25% of births and 50% of deaths worldwide go unrecorded each year.
The Cost of Being Invisible
The lack of official documentation has profound consequences. Without a birth certificate, individuals are denied a legal identity, which in turn blocks access to fundamental rights, services, and protections.
Furthermore, unrecorded deaths create critical gaps in health data. This invisibility makes it harder for governments and health organizations to identify emerging threats and track diseases effectively.
Stories of Impact
The project illustrates both the problem and the solution through real-world examples.
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In Bangladesh, mothers proudly display newly issued birth certificates following a government registration drive. These certificates are a gateway to essential aid, enabling families to enroll in a food assistance program.
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In Zambia, data analysis of childhood mortality revealed a startling fact: 75% of children born with HIV who were untreated would die by age 5. This evidence led to a major policy shift, increasing testing and treatment coverage from just 3% to 85%.
Behind the Project
Photographer Juan Arredondo created the project in collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health (D4H) Initiative, Vital Strategies, and the CDC Foundation. The project aims to visually demonstrate the devastating impact of being "uncounted"—and the life-changing benefits of being officially recognized.
Article written by Diane Cole.