Neglected Tropical Diseases

FAIRMED is there where people lack clean water, healthy nutrition, knowledge of basic hygiene and access to medical care. Such conditions form the ideal breeding ground for neglected tropical diseases.

These poverty-related diseases affect more than a billion of the world's poorest people. If left untreated, they can lead to severe disability and even death. Because they stunt the growth of children and young people and prevent adults from pursuing work, they rob entire villages of their future. In short, they bring even more hardship to those that are already living in deep poverty.

Since our founding over 60 years ago, we have always assigned the greatest importance to the fight against neglected tropical diseases. This effort makes a difference: It is possible to restrict the spread of all 20 diseases, which can often be treated with simple means.

Girl with a Buruli ulcer wound on her arm being treated by a FAIRMED employee. The girl is sitting on an examination table in a hospital in Bankim, Cameroon. The treatment room is very rudimentarily furnished.

Leprosy, yaws, elephantiasis...

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines 20 diseases as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).  Find out more about the NTDs that most affect the people within the FAIRMED projects.

Learn more
A young FAIRMED worker stretches the arm of an old man to see if his leprosy disease affects his mobility. The old man is sitting on a chair outside. Palm trees and trees can be seen in the background. The scenery is set in rural India.

Over 60 years of experience

For more than sixty years, FAIRMED has pursued the goal of enabling fair medical care for those living in deep poverty. Throughout, the fight against neglected tropical diseases has always played a central role.

More about our history
Our FAIRMED country coordinator in Cameroon Marguerite Belobo. She is wearing a pink T-shirt and a pink-green-grey blazer and glasses. Her hair is short and braided.

No one should suffer or die from a curable disease

Belobo Marguerite • Country Coordinator Cameroon

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