Niger First African Country To End River Blindness

Niger is the first African country in history to eliminate river blindness!

Officially known as onchocerciasis, infected black flies by rivers pass on the parasitic disease that has long caused blindness and incessant itching in humans across the African continent. The World Health Organization announced Niger’s achievement in January.

However, Niger is creating a new model for African healthcare systems. A year after ousting a Western-aligned leader in 2023, Niger lowered the cost of public health services, allowing more people to receive consultations, surgeries and treatments for diseases.

What lessons can other African countries take from Niger’s success in the face of this disease?

Video credit: @omsniger, @telesahel (IG) / @ortntele (X)

Sources

https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/a-historic-milestone!-who-verifies-niger-free-of-onchocerciasis-as-the-first-country-on-the-african-continent

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kxk1wj?at_link_type=web_link&at_ptr_name=twitter&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign_type=owned&at_medium=social&at_link_origin=BBCAfrica&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_id=6E0841F4-002A-11F0-A610-EC6CAE9E2946&at_format=image

https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/afrique/niger-sant%C3%A9-r%C3%A9duction-de-50-du-co%C3%BBt-des-soins-dans-les-structures-publiques/3311292#

https://end.org/nigers-defeat-of-river-blindness-helps-other-countries-see-the-way-forward