Elimination on the horizon: Niger finds success in eliminating an ancient disease (part 1)

Niger is on the cusp of a globally important milestone. After nearly 50 years of fly control campaigns, medicinal breakthroughs, and hundreds of thousands of people working together, Niger is on the verge of becoming the first country in Africa to achieve WHO verification of river blindness (also know as onchocerciasis) elimination.

River blindness is the second leading cause of blindness from infection and the fourth leading cause of preventable blindness. Niger has come a long way since an estimated 70% of its population was living with the parasite. Since then, new medications that both treat and prevent the disease - far more efficient and cost effective than previous control techniques - have emerged, which have given new life to Niger's neglected tropical disease (NTD) program.

The combination of new medicine and vector control in Niger reduced the prevalence down to 0.02% by 2002. A recent report concluded that the success of the program has added $2.3 billion USD to Niger’s economy. Since there was a reduction in blindness, people who would have had to leave the workforce to care for a family member could continue working, adding nearly 18 billion working hours, boosting GDP.

Directed By: Ladan Osman
Produced By: Yusuf Ahmed
Director of Photography: Joseph Penney
Edited By: AJ Caldwell
Illustration: Liz Kraker
Local Producer and camera operator: Alizé Mouktar
Sound Recordist: Saminou Ali