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Niger Becomes Africa's First Country to Eliminate River Blindness

Niger has become the first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, a parasitic disease that is the second-leading cause of blindness in the world. 

River blindness spreads to humans through the bite of an infected black fly, which is mainly found near rivers and carries the parasitic worm.

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that eradicating a disease requires tireless dedication and recognition. He congratulated Niger for its dedication to removing blinding, stigmatizing illnesses that afflict the poorest of the poor.

Niger joins four other countries WHO verified for eliminating onchocerciasis, all in the Region of the Americas: Colombia (2013), Ecuador (2014), Guatemala (2016) and Mexico (2015).

InFocus

ShellNigeria/NigeriaHealthWatch

(file photo).

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