Podoconiosis has continued being a public health problem in Ethiopia. Despite the huge strides marked in the last two national NTD master plans 2011-2015 and 2016-2020, the lack of access to information on the methods of home-based lymphedema self-care and access to affordable and suitable shoes are impeding in attained a required quality of life and improved health outcome among affected individuals.

To catalyze the use of local resources and show the local governments what treatment supplies podoconiosis affected individual need to care their lymphedema, NaPAN with financial support obtained from Ethiopiaid UK organized woreda level advocacy workshops and provided self-care treatment supplies that benefited more than 500 affected people.

Podoconiosis has continued being a public health problem in Ethiopia. Despite the huge strides marked in the last two national NTD master plans 2011-2015 and 2016-2020, the lack of access to information on the methods of home-based lymphedema self-care and access to affordable and suitable shoes are impeding in attained a required quality of life and improved health outcome among affected individuals.
To catalyze the use of local resources and show the local governments what treatment supplies podoconiosis affected individual need to care their lymphedema, NaPAN with financial support obtained from Ethiopiaid UK organized woreda level advocacy workshops and provided self-care treatment supplies that benefited more than 500 affected people.
The woreda level advocacy workshops were organized in Gozamen woreda, Debremarkos Town (January 23, 2022), in Wayu Tuka woreda, Nekemte Town (Jan 27, 2022), in Dire Woreda, Megado Town (February 13, 2022), and in Mierab Abay, Birbir Town (February 28, 2022). Divergent woreda sector representatives participated during the workshops and consensus was reached on the need of multi-sectoral response to end the neglect and the socio-economic burden posed on the affected individuals and their families.

Moreover, NaPAN also provided a one-day refresher training to health extension workers (HEWs) on community mobilization, case identification and referral. It has been able to reach about 200 HEWs. Through the refresher training it was advocated that it was the role of HEWs to follow managed affected after three months of patient training at health center. It was also noted that the HEWs ought to support affected individuals in their house to house visits they make for other primary health care services.

NaPAN has hosted a one day experience sharing workshop on Saturday September 18, 2021. The workshop was held in Friendship International Hotel, Addis Ababa. As one of its missions, NaPAN organized this workshop to create a forum for its member organizations to share their experiences in resource mobilization, networking and partnership, project implementation and management endeavours.

Among its active seven members, four delegates of each six member organizations participated in the workshop. Participating organizations presented on how they mobilize resources, manage projects and advocate diseases.

The participating delegates have learned from one another and requested for more similar initiatives as such gatherings create an opportunity to share vision and galvanize scatted efforts and impart best practices towards achieving the same goal becoming a vibrant and difference making civil society organization.

Few members of the board of directors also participated and facilitated the workshop. The board members have also appreciated NaPAN management for organizing the workshop and motivated members to continue advocating podoconiosis in every project they implement and advocacy efforts they exert.

With objective of sharing lessons and best practices among district health offices and health centers, a one day project reviewing meeting was held in three different places: Fintoteselam (July 14, 2021), Debretabor (July 16, 2021) and Bahirdar (July 21, 2021)

The project under review is entitled as ‘The Next Steps for podoconiosis patients in Amhara region’ is a three year project implemented from April, 2020 to March, 2023 in seven hyper endemic districts: Bure, Dera, Fogera, Gongi Kolela, Jabi Tehinan, Sekela, and Yilmana Densa districts. The project is funded by IZUMI foundation through Footwork the International Podoconiosis Initiative (www.podo.org).

In the review meeting health workers from each target health centre and Woreda Health Office and Woreda Finance and Economy office, Zonal Health Department (ZHD), Regional Health Bureau (RHB), Regional Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, FMOH NTD team representatives participated.

Through the panel discussion facilitated by FMOH, RHB, and ZHD, the following issues were discussed and highlighted:

• The need of galvanizing efforts to mobilize domestic resource to address the high demand of custom-made shoes and other treatment consumables
• The need of close follow up, monitoring and supervisory visits which motivates the task force at the periphery and address challenges
• The Woreda Health Office should include the podo management plan in the woreda base plan and the program should be closely supported by integrating into the woreda supportive supervision checklist and similarly as the health centers supports respective health posts.

NaPAN continues partnering with Ethiopiaid UK, a charity organization dedicated in transforming lives in Ethiopia.

NaPAN has recently received £40,793 matching fund from Ethiopiaid UK to support the treatment supplies demand in lymphatic filariasis and podoconiosis endemic districts while implementing a project entitled as Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Morbidity Mapping and Management in Ethiopia. 

Through this grant, more 600 community individuals  will be reached through woreda level advocacy and  more than 120 Health Extension Workers (HEWs) through training in community mobilization and patient referral in 20 woredas. The grant will also support access to treatment supplies (wash basins, soaps, skin ointment and anti-fungal creams) for more than 2000 individuals with lower leg lymphoedema. And More than 700 custom-made shoes will also be distributed to those individuals who cannot access shoes from the market due their severe lymphoedema.