Neglected Tropical Diseases

Project Harar enables rural Ethiopian children with facial disabilities to access life-changing medical care. We are seeing more and more patients with 'neglected tropical diseases'; little-studied infections that primarily affect poor people in Africa and Asia. Although not as well-known as diseases like malaria or HIV/AIDS, these neglected tropical diseases kill hundreds of thousands of children every year.

One neglected tropical disease that we encounter is noma, a devastating facial infection that kills 90% of its victims, and leaves survivors horrifically scarred. In fact, our very first patient (back in 2001) was Jemal, a street-child who wore a veil to disguise his terrible noma scars. Noma is a disease of poverty, caused by malnutrition and easily curable infections. We work to raise awareness of noma among local communities, and offer surgery to children like Mayrama who live with the scars of the disease.

Another neglected tropical disease that we encounter is cutaneous leishmaniases, a dangerous skin infection that also leaves terrible scars. It is caused by a single-celled parasite that is transmitted by sandfly bits.

Our dedicated outreach team travel across eastern Ethiopia, an area half the size of France, coordinating with local health workers to reach patients with neglected tropical diseases and raise awareness of the treatment available. We arrange free transport to the hospital, accommodation for a parent, and follow-up care if required.

It costs just £250 to reach a rural patient and organise the surgery and follow-up care he or she will need to speak, eat and smile like everyone else. If you can help, please click here