Six districts in the North Gondar zone of Ethiopia are experiencing extraordinary effects of generosity. Thanks in part to Lions-Carter Center SightFirst partnership, these communities are the first of 197 Ethiopian districts to halt the spread of onchocerciasis, more commonly known as “river blindness.”
Classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the world’s second leading infectious cause of blindness, this parasitic disease is transmitted by blackflies found near fast-moving rivers and streams. Once infected, victims suffer from intense itching, skin rashes and eye afflictions that often lead to permanent vision loss. The affliction is prevalent in Africa, as well as parts of Latin America and Yemen. With more than 19 million residents at risk of contracting river blindness, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health is working diligently to eliminate transmission of this preventable disease. As part of these efforts, Mectizan®, an anti-parasite medicine donated by Merck & Co., Inc., is distributed to residents of endemic areas twice per year. Read the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health’s press release here.
Generosity of The Carter Center and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has played a pivotal role. The Carter Center is a non-governmental agency established in 1982 by former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in conjunction with Emory University. Its mission is to promote peace, improve health and alleviate human suffering worldwide.
Since 1994, LCIF has proudly partnered with The Carter Center. LCIF’s support, totaling US$63 million, has helped distribute more than 218 million Mectizan® treatments in 11 countries throughout Africa and the Americas.
With river blindness transmission at a halt in this part of Ethiopia, 1.1 million residents can discontinue medication. Post-treatment surveillance and health education activities will continue for the next three to five years to confirm that river blindness has been eliminated. This also is a victory for cross border collaboration as Ethiopia’s neighbor Sudan also stopped treatment in the neighboring Galabat district on its side of the border. The two countries worked in close harmony to accomplish a shared goal.
Ethiopia hopes to eliminate river blindness nationally, and extends its thanks to dedicated health workers, The Carter Center, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Ethiopia Lions Clubs District 411/A and the Most Honorable Dr. Tebebe Berhan, University of South Florida, the World Health Organization, Merck & Co., Inc., and the Mectizan® Donation Program.
Visit LCIF.org/BE100 to learn how Campaign 100 will lead the charge to rid the world of infectious blindness, reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment, and improve overall quality of life by providing services to those with blindness or visual impairment.
