Nets donated to address rising rates of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Syria
MENTOR recently donated 2,728 long-lasting insecticidal nets to the Idleb Health Directorate, Syria to address the sharp increase in cutaneous leishmaniasis. Monthly reported cases have risen from around 2,500 to more than 5,000 in recent months. Southern Idleb remains among the most affected areas, particularly Ma’aret Al-Numan and Khan Shaykhun, where 2,628 new cases were […]
Country Profile: Syria
MENTOR has been operating in Syria to support the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of leishmaniasis in line with national strategies and humanitarian health priorities since 2013. MENTOR’s approach focuses on strengthening primary healthcare services and community level capacity to reduce morbidity, prevent complications, and limit transmission in high risk areas.Activities are implemented in close coordination […]
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 […]
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 […]
World Humanitarian Day
On World Humanitarian Day (19 August) we honour those working tirelessly in fragile, complex settings to protect and save lives. We join the call for protection, accountability and action to support humanitarian workers carry out their work and for people affected by crises around the world. The humanitarian system is underfunded, overstretched and under attack. […]
WHO recommends new vector control tools for malaria
The World Health Organization has issued a new recommendation for the use of spatial repellents, an innovative vector control tool for the control of malaria. This new class of spatial emanators emit transfluthrin into the air repelling and killing mosquitoes whilst being safe for people. WHO’s prequalification of SC Johnson’s Shield and Guardian spatial repellents […]