Rwanda Pledges to Eradicate Podoconiosis by 2030: A Global Health Milestone
The Second International Conference on Podoconiosis concluded on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Kigali, with a strong focus on developing a unified global strategy to combat and eventually eliminate the disease. A key highlight of the event was the ambitious announcement of a goal to eradicate podoconiosis entirely by 2030.
Ladislas NSHIMIYIMANA, Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), revealed that Rwanda currently has 6,000 reported cases of podoconiosis, with significant progress in treatment efforts.
“We have established 13 specialized treatment centers across the country. Out of the 6,000 affected individuals, 1,300 have already been treated and cured,” Nshimiyimana stated.
He further highlighted Rwanda’s dedication to combating podoconiosis as part of its broader plan to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2030. Plans are also in place to construct seven additional treatment centers this year to support patients in various regions.
Professor Gail Davey, an epidemiologist at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), University of Brighton, emphasized that podoconiosis is both preventable and treatable, yet it continues to affect millions globally.
“This condition, which leads to non-infectious swelling of the legs, results from prolonged exposure to irritating soils, often due to walking barefoot. It is neither caused by parasites, bacteria, nor viruses,” she explained.
Professor Davey stressed the importance of wearing shoes consistently to prevent the disease. She also pointed out that improvements in infrastructure, such as better roads and house flooring, could minimize exposure to contaminated soils, though financial constraints make shoes inaccessible for some communities.
She called for increased awareness, community education, and collaborative efforts between public, private, and international stakeholders to provide footwear and treatment. She also advocated for funding programs that address poverty, which leaves many vulnerable to diseases like podoconiosis.
“With consistent use of shoes, podoconiosis could be eradicated entirely,” she concluded.
Podoconiosis is a chronic condition characterized by progressive leg swelling (lymphoedema) that affects an estimated 4 million people across 32 countries worldwide. Unlike diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites, podoconiosis is a non-infectious condition that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals who have prolonged barefoot exposure to irritant soils in tropical highland regions. Similar to many Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) recognized by the WHO, it primarily arises in poor, disadvantaged, voiceless populations, and traps patients and communities in poverty.
Podoconiosis is often mistaken for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), another major cause of lymphoedema in tropical areas. Preventive strategies include simple foot hygiene practices, the use of emollients, proper skin care, bandaging, and wearing socks and shoes. Notably, it is considered one of the few non-communicable diseases that could potentially be eliminated in the near future.
