Uganda to get rid of Onchocerciasis year 2020 - Dr Jane

Uganda- onchocerciasis is an endemic disease in Uganda. The Ministry of Health under the headship of Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng is fighting hard to eradicate the disease from the country.
In her tweet, she disclosed that the meeting of Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee is opened.
She highlighted achievement made in eliminating the disease in 24 districts out of 40 districts. Also, by year 2020, the country will get rid of onchocerciasis.

Meanwhile Onchocerciasis, commonly known as “river blindness”, caused by the parasitic worm called Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted to humans through exposure to repeated bites of infected blackflies of the genus Simulium. Few symptoms include severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions, and visual impairment, including permanent blindness.

It was my pleasure to open the 12th Meeting of Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee (UOEEAC) this morning.
Recent epidemiological & entomological assessments indicate that interruption of onchocerciasis transmission in Madi-Mid North may be possible by 2020.

As of today, out of the Seventeen foci which were formerly endemic for onchocerciasis covering 40 districts, only 16 districts are still implementing interventions while the 24 have achieved elimination and stopped mass treatment.