Raising the international profile of podoconiosis.

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Raising the international profile of podoconiosis.

• Dr Gail Davey
• Reader in Global Health,
• Brighton Sussex Medical School
• and
• Honorary Associate Professor,
• Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

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Podoconiosis definition

• Tropical elephantiasis, distinct from lymphatic
  filariasis (LF). Ascending, commonly bilateral
  but asymmetric lymphoedema.
• No virus, bacterium or parasite identified
  despite extensive investigation.
• Podoconiosis from the Greek podos (foot) and
  konos (dust/earth).

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Disease Burden

• Podoconiosis is Common
• 5-10 prevalence in endemic areas across tropics.
• Est. 4 million people affected across tropical
  Africa.
• Podoconiosis is Costly
• Annual cost to Ethiopia estimated US200m.
• Huge burden of human suffering.

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Simple Treatment is EffectiveBefore
After
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Strategies to bring podoconiosis to international
attention

• Development of systematic program of research
  linked to a patient association (MFTPA)
• Lobbying across disciplines (health, development
  and education) at national and international
  level
• Partnership with business (TOMS)
• Direct, evidence-backed approaches to eg. WHO,
  GELF, PLoS NTD.

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Successes in 2011

• Included in WHO list of NTDs
• (http//www.who.int/neglected_diseases/diseases/po
  doconiosis/en/)
• National Podoconiosis Action Network established
  in Ethiopia
• Need for International Podoconiosis Initiative
  agreed in Boston.