Elephantiasis in Ethiopia - in pictures

These women from western Ethiopia are suffering from podoconiosis, one of the main causes of elephantiasis. Podoconiosis is caused by regular contact with red clay, a volcanic soil, which irritates the skin Photograph: Wellcome Trust

Ethiopian surveyors, part of one of 34 teams of health workers recruited to eliminate elephantiasis under the master plan for NTDs, pose before starting data collection for mapping the disease in the country. The teams have been trained by international aid agencies and health trusts Photograph: Wellcome Trust

Solomon Awoke, one of the team leaders, assists a woman in northern Ethiopia in providing her fingerprint as a sign of consent to participate in the study Photograph: Wellcome Trust

A health worker takes a blood sample for a rapid diagnosis test. About 130,000 individuals in Ethiopia are being examined under the plan Photograph: Wellcome Trust

Every participant in the survey undergoes a physical examination, blood test and an interview. Here a health provider is interviewing a woman using a smartphone in Tigray, north Ethiopia Photograph: Wellcome Trust

Beyond the challenges of diagnosis and prevention, there remain widespread misconceptions about elephantiasis in Ethiopia. After completing surveys the health teams provide education on prevention and treatment, and inform patients about available services Photograph: Wellcome Trust