Lydia Mosi, an Associate Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Ghana, has received an international lifetime achievement award for her work on neglected tropical diseases.
The award was presented by the Anesvad Foundation during its 11th annual awards ceremony in Spain on Thursday.
The foundation honours individuals and organisations fighting neglected tropical diseases, which affect more than one billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Prof. Mosi was recognised for decades of research into Buruli ulcer and other neglected tropical skin diseases.
She has published more than 50 scientific papers on the subject and helped influence health policies. She has also secured more than $20 million in research funding.
Each award comes with a €15,000 prize to support the recipient’s work.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Prof. Mosi said her interest in Buruli ulcer began during her undergraduate studies.
“I started this journey out of curiosity as an undergraduate student when I saw my first Buruli ulcer patient with a huge lesion that was painless,” she said.
She said the recognition was meaningful because neglected tropical diseases often reflect broader social neglect.
“To be recognised for work in neglected tropical skin diseases and my work in Buruli ulcer is especially meaningful because these conditions have, for far too long, reflected a deeper neglect, not only of diseases, but of the people who live with them,” she stated.
Prof. Mosi dedicated the award to her late mother, whom she described as someone who strongly believed in her future.
She also highlighted the wider impact of neglected tropical skin diseases on communities.
“Neglected tropical skin diseases are more than medical conditions. They affect education, livelihoods, mental health, and social inclusion,” she said.
“Behind every statistic is a child excluded from school, a parent unable to work, or an individual facing stigma and isolation.”
Prof. Mosi also encouraged young scientists to remain committed to solving major health challenges.
She urged them to “challenge indifference, strengthen local leadership, and ensure that no disease and no person is considered too neglected to matter.”
Ghana also received another award at the ceremony through the Ark Development Organisation.
The organisation was recognised for its work on the environmental, social, and economic causes of neglected tropical diseases.
Its director, Emmanuel Kwafo Mintah, received the award on behalf of the organisation.
Another award went to Ethiopia’s National Podoconiosis Action Network for its advocacy and policy work on neglected tropical skin diseases.
Since 2015, the Anesvad Foundation has supported 48 projects across several African countries, with total funding reaching €865,000.
