Podo is a form of elephantiasis causing disability and social isolation. In Ethiopia, where our work has focused, it is more common than HIV, tuberculosis or malaria, affecting at least 3 million people (though the disease is also found in 24 other countries around the world).

Yet despite its scale and severity, it only costs around £15 a year to treat someone with podo and the treatment is incredibly effective. It simply involves washing the patient's feet in clean water, drying them, applying an emollient and bandaging the swollen area. They are then given shoes to prevent recurrences. There is no need for expensive medication or surgery. It really is that simple.

The main reason people are still suffering silently is because they cannot afford basic materials like clean water or shoes. Your support will help to eliminate this disease - first in Ethiopia and then across the world - by distributing these treatment materials and educating rural communities on preventative measures.