Neglected diseases often affect people living in developing countries. As a result, pharmaceutical companies have little interest in working to find a cure for these diseases. Stimulating awareness about the urgent need for new, better treatment and tests for diseases like leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and Chagas and noma is key to the work of MSF’s Access Campaign and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) of which MSF was a founding partner.
MSF is collaborating with the District Services of Health, Women and Social Action in Mogovolas and the Provincial Services in Nampula, Mozambique, to deliver surgical treatment for hydrocele, one of the chronic complications of the neglected tropical disease (NTD) lymphatic filariasis (commonly known as elephantiasis).
In this testimony, Muheva shares his experience of living with the chronic disease, also called Elephantiasis, which in its advanced stage is characterized by extreme swelling in the limbs, genitals and breasts.
Mulikat Okolanwon got noma as a child and was left severely disfigured. After several surgeries at Sokoto Noma Hospital in northern Nigeria, she started working in the hospital and went on to become a patient advocate, travelling abroad to raise awareness of the disease and sharing her story.
Muhammadu, Mulikat and Dahiru have little in common. They were born in different corners of Nigeria and grew up in different circumstances and with different dreams. But one day, when they were still children, their lives and those of their relatives changed forever because of noma.
![14 MSF trucks loaded with tents and winter kits crossing into northwest Syria [Abdulmonam Eassa/MS]](https://msf.or.ke/sites/default/files/styles/news_page_244x155/public/msfimages/news/msb149033_medium.jpeg?itok=7tb-bD1V "14 MSF trucks loaded with tents and winter kits crossing into northwest Syria [© Abdulmonam Eassa/MS]")
MSF calls for the urgent scaling up of humanitarian supplies, which currently fail to even match pre-earthquake volumes
The inclusion of noma in the list would shine a spotlight on the most neglected of neglected diseases
It’s past time to overcome the neglect and end the scourge of these diseases
MSF reiterates its commitment to diagnosing and treating life-threatening NTDs in humanitarian settings as it signs the Kigali Declaration
Neglected diseases often affect people living in developing countries. As a result, pharmaceutical companies have little interest in working to find a cure for these diseases. Stimulating awareness about the urgent need for new, better treatment and tests for diseases like leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and Chagas and noma is key to the work of MSF’s Access Campaign and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) of which MSF was a founding partner.
