Traditional healing and mycetoma management in East Sennar State (Sudan): a qualitative exploration
Background Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease with significant physical, social, and economic consequences. In Sudan, biomedical services dominate health policy and funding, often marginalising coexisting traditional healing systems. Understanding the interplay between these parallel systems is essential for improving patient outcomes. Objective To explore the role of traditional healers in mycetoma management in Sudan, […]
The role of NGOs in mainstreaming services for podoconiosis into healthcare facilities: the case of two NGOs in Ethiopia
Background Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have played an important role in supporting progress towards the goals of the WHO Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Roadmap 2021-30. Several NGOs have shifted from directly delivering NTD services to mainstreaming them to existing health systems. There is little information about the NGOs themselves – their organisational environments and their influence […]
Health professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in snakebite management: A study from high-burden areas in the Afar Region, Ethiopia
Background Snakebite envenoming remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in rural and resource-limited tropical regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, the Afar Region bears a disproportionate burden due to environmental exposure, pastoralist livelihoods, and limited access to timely medical care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and capacity gaps […]
Individual identities and stigma inequalities: insights from the experience of people affected by podoconiosis in Rwanda
Introduction Podoconiosis is a Skin Neglected Tropical Disease (SNTD) that affects impoverished individuals in tropical regions. While there is a substantial understanding of the stigma associated with podoconiosis, little is known about the podoconiosis-related stigma experience based on individual identities, such as gender, class, age, location and physical ability. Due to the power differentials associated […]
Conceptualising hardship areas in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review
Introduction Many national development strategies are implemented at the subnational administrative level, serving as critical units for service delivery. Some subnational levels remain underserved and face significant obstacles to achieving equitable development. In Sub-Saharan Africa, underserved regions are often called hardship areas; however, there is no clarity on how such areas are defined across various […]
Mass drug administration for trachoma elimination in a pastoral conflict area in Baringo County, Kenya: A study on barriers to coverage and compliance
Abstract: Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. It is caused by repeated ocular infections with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Treatment coverage achieved in Baringo County, Kenya in 2020 and 2021 was 80% and 79% respectively, further investigation at the lower levels known as wards shows coverages ranging […]
Navigating the Path to Elimination: Lessons from Lymphatic Filariasis and Trachoma Dossiers
In the late 1990s, the World Health Assembly adopted resolutions targeting the global elimination of the diseases lymphatic filariasis (LF) and trachoma as public health problems. Tremendous progress has been made since then, with 19 countries eliminating LF and 18 countries eliminating trachoma.To validate elimination of a neglected tropical disease (NTD) as a public health […]
Rabies death in an adolescent tribal girl diagnosed postmortem, in Kerala – the precious life, preventable loss and equity concerns.
Background Rabies is a neglected tropical disease endemic in 150 countries, including India where it is present in all states and union territories except Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep. Kerala reports high incidence of animal bites. This article discusses the preventable death of a 17-year-old tribal girl due to rabies in Kerala and the equity […]
Comparison of metrics for assessing face washing behaviour for trachoma control.
There is currently no single, easy-to-use, reliable indicator to assess whether a face has been washed with soap in the context of trachoma elimination. This study aimed to compare survey report, script-based pictorial recall and facial cleanliness indicators as alternatives to structured observation for measuring face washing behaviour. This method validation study was nested in […]
Exploring barriers to accessing treatment for Lymphatic Filariasis through a socio-ecological lens in Buvuma and Napak districts, Uganda.
Background The World Health Organization launched the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in 2000, which aimed at eradicating the disease by 2030. This goal depends on community mass drug administration and essential care. Despite these efforts, many rural communities still face untreated lymphatic filariasis and lack access to treatment and self-management. Using a socioecological […]