Yeheyis

YYeheyis is a 26-year-old farmer who is married with two children. He says: "A year ago, I learnt that I had podo, caused by the red soil in my environment. Before that, people used to say the condition was caused by walking barefoot over goat's blood. But there were no goats in my village. I used to walk barefoot as the only shoes I could find in the market that I could fit into were open-toe shoes and wouldn't fit the size of my swollen feet. I always used to get pain in my groin and acute attacks when I was weeding on the farm. It was hard to harvest because of the pain."

At the clinics, patients and their families are guided through the steps of lymphoedema management including foot hygiene, emollient application, use of bandages, socks and shoes, exercises and elevation.

"Now I have been diagnosed with podoconiosis and know how to treat it, I will continue to take care of my feet," says Yeheyis, "If I don't, I won't be able to go far in life."

Bayush

Eight years ago, Bayush noticed a painful swelling in her lower limbs. Thinking it would pass, she carried on with daily life, but the pain and swelling only grew worse. 

Worried and unsure of the cause, she remembered an incident months earlier when bird faeces had fallen on her foot. She turned to holy water and herbal remedies, but nothing helped. 

As her condition worsened, Bayush was often confined to bed. Her family, fearful and misinformed, stopped helping her. Neighbours spread rumours. She was excluded from community life and, eventually, turned away from her own home by her husband. 

One day, she met a friend who had received treatment for similar symptoms caused by podoconiosis, a disease triggered by long-term exposure to irritant minerals in red clay soil. Encouraged, Bayush visited a local treatment site. 

There, staff explained the actual cause of podoconiosis and showed her how to manage it. When she arrived, her feet were severely swollen and had a mossy appearance. 

Three months later, Bayush could wear shoes again. The swelling had reduced, and the mossy skin had cleared. She was welcomed back into her village and began sharing what she had learned with others. 

Bayush regained her health and her place in the community.