APIDO (Podoconiosis) - Partners of Ethiopiaid
Podoconiosis (podo) is a painful, chronic devastating and disfiguring disease of the lower legs and feet, a type of elephantiasis.
Shockingly it affects 1.5 million people in Ethiopia.
This non-infectious neglected tropical disease is caused by direct exposure to irritant minerals found in fertile volcanic red clay soil, which covers one-fifth of Ethiopia.
Prolonged exposure to these harmful minerals causes severe swelling, constant pain, and deformity of the lower limbs.
For communities who live, work and farm the land barefoot, daily contact with the soil is unavoidable.
Right now, men, women and children are at risk from the very ground they rely on to survive. A staggering 15 million people in Ethiopia are vulnerable to contracting podoconiosis.
Ethiopiaid partners with Action on Podoconiosis and Integrated Development Organisation (APIDO) to work in communities educating people on prevention, treatment and self-care. They are:
Training local health workers to manage and prevent podo.
Providing self-care kits: a washing bowl, soap, Vaseline and ointment can significantly reduce symptoms and alleviate pain.
Making specialist shoes in local workshops. Without these, people whose feet and legs are so severely swollen would have no way of protecting themselves from the soil.
Raising awareness of prevention, spreading the message of the causes and symptoms. This reduces stigma, promotes early detection and encourages people to seek care.
Creating long-term change: APIDO’s sustainable approach can be replicated within each community with your support, to eradicate podo.
Please support this important and life changing campaign if you possibly can!