Last month in a guest post for End the Neglect, Sightsavers’ Simon Bush asked “Can we rid Africa of a blinding neglected tropical disease (NTD)?” New research supported by Sightsavers and the African Programme for Onchcerciasis Control (APOC) shows that yes, onchocerciasis really can be eliminated when treatment is distributed in an area for a sustained period. The study also found that the disease may already be eliminated in one Nigerian state, marking a significant milestone for onchocerciasis control programs.
Globally the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 120 million people are at risk from, and 37 million people are already infected with, onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness). Because onchocerciasis is transmitted by the bite of a fly that breeds in fast-flowing rivers, people who need fertile river valleys to survive cannot escape this devastating disease.
20 year old Mary Muntari collects water from a stream in which the fly that carries river blindness breeds in Kachia, in Kaduna State Nigeria. Mary lives close to the river and relies on it for washing, drinking and bathing. So also do her family members and other community members.
The disease is treated with a drug called ivermectin, which is donated by the global pharmaceutical company Merck, (known as MSD in the UK) and distributed to individuals by NGOs such as Sightsavers and APOC. Just last month, Sightsavers announced that they are increasing their investment in onchocercisis control in order to sustain long-term distribution programs and reach more communities in need.
With support of the Ministry of Health, large-scale distribution of ivermectin was started by Sightsavers in Nigeria’s Kaduna State in 1991, at a time when onchocerciasis infection rates in the region exceeded 50 percent. A survey of 3,703 people in 27 communities found that infection rates have now dropped down to 0 percent. The study enhances the recent finding that ivermectin taken once or twice a year for 15 to 17 years can help control onchocerciasis.
Commenting on the findings, Simon Bush said: “Onchocerciasis needlessly devastates the lives of individuals, families and whole communities, which is why the research findings are significant not just for those living in Kaduna, but for those at risk across Africa. This research strongly suggests elimination has been achieved in two foci areas of Kaduna State. If we can start declaring areas disease-free, and help rid Africa of this parasitic disease, we would not just eliminate one of the NTDs but would reduce levels of avoidable blindness and alleviate the negative impact on economic productivity. This move to elimination will be followed in many Sightsavers-supported projects.”
You can visit the Sightsavers website to learn more about their work to eliminate onchocerciasis and other causes of preventable blindness. They’re also on Facebook at .