Training for podoconiosis patients

The originality of the project was its concern with the rehabilitation of patients who had been successfully treated for podoconiosis. The aim was to enable 100 young patients to undergo vocational training and for 280 women to access interest-free microcredit in order to regain their financial independence. In addition to vocational training, health education was an important component of the program for patients to become agents of change in their communities.

The objective of the microcredit programme was exceeded, as 280 women plus 140 men benefited from the initiative. They were all patients who were cured of podoconiosis, carefully selected and nominated by their community. Through the loans they were able to regain financial independence. Forty young women and 60 young men received six weeks training as hairdressers and barbers. Some of the alternative training courses for older patients were reduced due to inflation. Nevertheless, 26 women were trained in poultry farming.

The Mossy Foot Treatment and Prevention Association (MFTPA) based in the south of Ethiopia has been active in the treatment and prevention of podoconiosis, a highly debilitating disease since 1999.