Project Brief: Strengthening vector-borne disease control and community health resilience in northern Syria
Vector-borne diseases, particularly cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, remain a critical public health threat in northern Syria due to conflict, displacement, weakened health systems, and poor environmental conditions.In the first half of 2025, over 6,000 cutaneous and 22 visceral leishmaniasis cases were reported in MENTOR-supported facilities, with the highest burden in Aleppo and Idleb governorates. People […]
Needs assessment in Ar-Raqqa to address health crisis
It is a critical time in Northeast Syria which is facing rising cases of diseases such as leishmaniasis, an endemic neglected tropical disease, alongside reduced healthcare services and resources because of funding cuts. A MENTOR team recently carried out an assessment in Ar-Raqqa Governorate to evaluate the situation and better understand the needs. The visit […]
Humanitarian Networks and Partnership Week
MENTOR was delighted to join the panel discussing scaling health innovations in emergencies at the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks – HNPW in Geneva on Tuesday (10 March). Led by Creating Hope in Conflict: a Humanitarian Grand Challenge and Gray Dot Catalyst, the session focused on how building value networks to scale up innovations is […]
World NTD Day 2026
In 2025 MENTOR programme teams supported the delivery of essential treatments and vector control, and helped strengthen health systems, to address the high risk of neglected tropical diseases in South Sudan, Syria and Angola. They overcame significant challenges to reach communities cut off by flooding, affected by conflict, far from health services, or displaced, to […]
NTD control in Syria
Over 93,000 homes and 51,600 temporary shelters across Aleppo and Idleb Governorates were sprayed with WHO-approved insecticide to address the high threat of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the region. MENTOR carried out the large-scale Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign in northwest Syria between May and September 2025 to protect more than 799,000 people, including many that have […]
Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network (NNN) conference 2025
We are excited to be attending the Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network (NNN) conference in Kampala this week with a focus on sustainable innovations to transform the fight against NTDs. On Thursday, Xavier Badia, MENTOR Programme Manager and Chair of the NNN Conflict and Humanitarian Emergencies Working Group, will lead a workshop addressing NTD control […]
New Vector-Borne Disease Units open in Syria
MENTOR recently opened two Vector-Borne Disease Units in Azaz and Idleb City as part of ongoing efforts to address the high rates of leishmaniasis in northern Syria. These unique units, funded by The Aid Fund for Syria, provide free diagnosis, treatment and essential medicines for patients, and coordinate wider prevention and care through 48 health […]
New study to compare onchocerciasis treatments
The effective control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases requires innovative tools and approaches such as scoping alternative treatments to be used for mass drug administration campaigns. In Bié Province, Angola, this means the launch of a new study to compare two treatments for onchocerciasis (commonly known as river blindness). Transmitted by black flies that […]
Country Brief: South Sudan
South Sudan faces a severe humanitarian crisis caused by conflict, climate shocks, economic instability, and public health challenges. Floods, droughts, and extreme heat have devastated livelihoods and displaced communities. Intercommunal violence and the influx of over 900,000 people fleeing Sudan have overwhelmed infrastructure and services. Health systems are fragile, with limited access to care and […]
Project Brief: Expansion and sustained control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in Angola
Angola is endemic for 16 of the 21 WHO listed neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH) particularly prevalent. Mapping and assessments revealed high STH rates in northern provinces and SCH across the central plateau, with Cuanza Norte and Huila showing significant prevalence. The national strategy prioritises mass drug administration (MDA) […]