Footwork

Prof. Gail Davey , a medical epidemiologist who has worked on podoconiosis since 2012, is Footworks founder. Prof. Davey co-ordinates international research teams investigating disease distribution, genetic and mineral causes, disease pathogenesis, social and economic consequences, clinical and community management, and behavioural interventions to... improve prevention. She is advisor to NaPAN , the Ethiopian National Podoconiosis Action Network, and the WHOs Department of Neglected Tropical Disease Control. Dr. Kebede Deribe Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Wellcome Trust Brighton & Sussex Centre for Global Health Research Our vision is a world free of podoconiosis in our lifetimes. Our mission is to bring together public and private partners to support prevention and treatment of, and advocacy for, podoconiosis. Raise public awareness of the causes and impact of podoconiosis in affected communities, and of the relative simplicity of disease prevention and treatment Advocate for shoes as the next bednets against foot-related conditions* with the ability to prevent disease, reduce morbidity, increase quality of life and economic opportunities. Accelerate collection of scientific data in order to further establish the cause(s) of podoconiosis, most effective treatments and means of preventing the disease Support mapping of podoconiosis distribution in each country whose geology, topography and climate puts it at high risk of disease so that diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and care/support programs can be rapidly organised and directed to those affected Improve the ability to distinguish between podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis and other common forms of tropical elephantiasis to ensure that appropriate treatment reaches each patient Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework for epidemiological, programmatic and health systems data to generate a global picture of podoconiosis from country-specific information. Integrate podoconiosis control into primary health care, water and sanitation (WASH) programs ...Read More