As part of the project entitled as 'Improving Access to skin NTD care (Podoconiosis, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and other skin NTDs) in Ethiopia ( Impact SkinNTDs)', a hands on training on nodulectomy was provided for primary health care providers in Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia Region on April 30 and May 1, 2025. This initiative is part of the broader effort to decentralize and scale up podoconiosis care services in Ethiopia, seeking to improve the quality of life for affected individuals. Podoconiosis patients often experience social exclusion and mobility issues, as nodules prevent them from wearing shoes and may cause recurrent acute attacks, leading to increased morbidity.

The training aimed to enhance skills for managing podoconiosis-related nodules, thereby improving patient outcomes and supporting the decentralization and scaling up of this intervention.

A total of seven individuals directly benefited from the intervention, among whom was one female participant. Recognizing the importance of community involvement for long-term success, the program also engaged eight representatives from different administrative levels. These included officials from both woredas—Boreda and Zala—and from the zones of Gamo and Gofa. Their participation was aimed at fostering local ownership of the intervention and ensuring its sustainability beyond the initial implementation phase. Along the training medical supplies and consumables valued at over 300,000 ETB were donated to the targeted Five health centers through their respective woreda health offices.

 The training successfully enhanced the capacity of local health workers to manage podoconiosis nodules through surgical intervention. The donated supplies will bolster ongoing efforts to provide sustainable and accessible care. Continued collaboration among health authorities, local partners, and expert clinicians is vital to achieve the targeted outreach and impact.

NaPAN, in partnership with the Illu aba Bora Zone Health Department, organized a one-day advocacy workshop on April 2, 2024 in Metu town. The workshop was attended by over 30 participants from various government offices and the community.

Subsequent to the workshop, NaPAN conducted a three-day training on Lymphedema Morbidity Management and Post-Hydrocele Surgery Follow-up for 91 healthcare providers from 21 health centers in five woredas from April 3 - 8, 2024. The trainees came from the Alge Sach, Bilo Nopa, Bure, Darimu, and Yayo woredas. The training enhanced the participants' knowledge and inspired them to support individuals affected by these conditions.

NaPAN successfully facilitated the theoretical and hands-on training on nodulectomy, intralesional SSG, and cryotherapy from January 14 to 18, 2024 in Gamo zone, South Ethiopia region.

The training involved a theoretical session on podo morbidity management in Arbaminch town on January 14, followed by hands-on training on nodulectomy at Zefine health centers on January 16. Fourteen individuals, including health officers, nurses, and woreda NTD coordinators from Zefine, Gocho, and Ezo health centers received the training. During the hands-on training, five people with nodules received the intervention. Additionally, the trainers provided hands-on training on intralesional Sodium Stibogluconate (SSG) to health workers from Dorze, Daradime and Gugie-Boyra health centers on January 15^th, 17^th and 18^th respectively. During the hands-on training in intralesional SSG and cryotherapy with a cotton-tipped applicator, a total of 17 individuals with uncomplicated and localized cutaneous leishmaniasis received the service. Throughout the project period until the end of July 2024, a total of 100 podoconiosis patients with nodules and a total of 300 people with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis will be treated. The project has also distributed different medical supplies and 150 pairs of custom-made shoes that cost ETB 448,588.00.

With the financial support of END FUND/RLMF, NaPAN, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus and district health offices, successfully conducted a household census survey in 24 endemic areas from August 25, 2023, to October 25, 2023. This house-to-house morbidity mapping identified about 15,762 people with lymphedema (lower limb swelling) and 584 individuals with hydrocele (scrotal swelling).To understand and evaluate how accurately and correctly the Health Extension Workers (HEWs) identified the lymphedema and hydrocele cases as per the training they received, NaPAN has started facilitating an independent confirmatory assessment among randomly selected districts and respective identified LF cases.

To this end a confirmatory assessment has been conducted from December 18-19, 2023 among randomly selected 19 lymphedema and 4 hydrocele cases in Jinka town (from Ari Zone) and Bena-Tsemay district (from South-Omo Zone). The assessment was conducted by Dr. Arji Telo, a senior surgeon at Jinka General Hospital and confirmed that 84.2% of the selected lymphedemas and the selected hydrocele 100% were correctly matched, and the rest 15.8% was Poly arthritis and venous insufficiency. This evaluation will continue in the remaining 22 woredas.