The overlooked value of training in self-administration of medication in Leishmania care: observations from the San Raffaele hospital ship humanitarian medical mission

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by infection with Leishmania parasites. It has a broad global distribution but is more commonly found in rainforests and rural areas. The disease is endemic in Colombia, where >10 000 cases are confirmed yearly.1 Considered a neglected tropical disease, it disproportionately affects individuals in the lower segments of society, particularly those living in rural and impoverished areas with higher baseline vulnerability to social and economic inequalities. In these contexts, the role of non-governmental organizations becomes fundamental to providing care for underserved populations and making visible the pervasive inequalities and barriers for accessing healthcare that they experience daily.