Synopsis
Niger has officially declared itself free of onchocerciasis, marking a historic achievement as the first African nation to eradicate this debilitating disease, with the WHO recognizing this significant milestone.Key Takeaways
- Niger is the first African nation to eradicate onchocerciasis.
- World Health Organisation commended Niger's efforts.
- Onchocerciasis is transmitted by black flies in riverine areas.
- Niger is the fifth country globally to eliminate this disease.
- It successfully interrupted the transmission of dracunculiasis in 2013.
Niamey, Jan 31 (NationPress) Niger's Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs Garba Hakimi announced at a formal ceremony that the nation has successfully eliminated onchocerciasis.
With this remarkable accomplishment, Niger is now the first country in Africa to eradicate this disease, which had severely affected communities near specific water sources, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) praised Niger for meeting the criteria necessary to eliminate onchocerciasis.
Niger is recognized as the fifth nation globally, and the first on the African continent, to have effectively halted the transmission of the Onchocerca volvulus parasite.
The other four countries that have achieved this significant milestone are located in the Americas: Colombia (2013), Ecuador (2014), Guatemala (2016), and Mexico (2015).
Hakimi expressed appreciation for the endeavors made over the last 15 years, which provided the scientific foundation for eliminating the disease in Niger.
Casimir Manengu, the WHO's resident representative, commended Niger's dedication and leadership that facilitated this exceptional achievement.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "I commend Niger for its commitment to liberating its population from this debilitating and stigmatizing disease that inflicts severe suffering on the most vulnerable communities."
"This achievement is a testament to the substantial strides we have made in combating neglected tropical diseases. By proving that elimination is feasible, it inspires hope for other nations still confronting onchocerciasis today."
Onchocerciasis is the second neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Niger, which was certified to have interrupted the transmission of dracunculiasis in 2013 by the WHO.
Commonly referred to as river blindness, onchocerciasis is a parasitic illness and ranks as the second leading infectious cause of blindness globally, following trachoma. It is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected black flies, primarily found in riverine regions. The disease mainly affects rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen, with smaller endemic areas present in parts of Latin America.
Between 1976 and 1989, under the aegis of the WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP), Niger implemented vector control strategies by applying insecticides that significantly reduced onchocerciasis transmission levels.
