Visual ethnographic documentation: a novel tool for mycetoma awareness and advocacy

Mycetoma is an extremely neglected tropical disease that still receives insufficient attention from international medical and health communities, non-governmental organizations and research funders. It has serious health and socio-economic impacts on patients, families, communities and the health system in endemic areas.^1–3 In this communication, we highlight the stories of two mycetoma patients, El Safi and Albagir, through visual ethnographic documentaries, recording their sufferings and the impact of the disease on their families and how this approach can be used in the future as a novel tool for mycetoma advocacy.

The first patient is a singer and the second has both physical and mental disabilities. Both had a massive long-standing and neglected foot mycetoma that resulted in below-the-knee amputation. The indication for amputation was multifactorial, including the massive lesions at presentation. Factors contributing to late presentation include low socio-economic and health education status, remote locations, lack of access to treatment...