Buruli Ulcer is the third common mycobacterium infection after tuberculosis and HD. It is caused by Mycrobacterium Ulcerans and mainly affects the skin of children and people living close to rivers and stagnant bodies of water.

TNF started supporting the WHO Global Buruli Ulcer Initiative (GBUI) in 1998. In 2001, The Nippon Foundation(TNF) and SMHF funded a project on surgical intervention in Ghana, as surgery to remove infected necrotic tissue was the only reliable treatment then in the absence of effective chemotherapy or vaccines. In 2003 and 2004 SMHF funded training programme in Ghana on surgical treatment of Buruli Ulcer in combination with skin grafting to cover skin defect to facilitate recovery and minimize deformity. In 2005, this programme has been taken over by TNF-funded WHO programme and will be expanded to other endemic countries. TNF also supported WHO in its production of an educational comic book geared towards children in French and English, as easy-to-take effective chemotherapy or vaccine have yet to be developed and education remains the best form of prevention.

As in 2010, a combination of rifampicin and streptomycin/amikacin for eight weeks is recommended by WHO as a first-line treatment. In addition, WHO also reports that BCG vaccine appears to offer short-term protection.