Onchocerciasis in Nigeria 1: History of control efforts

https://doi.org/10.60787/qkam-wb02

Authors

  • B. E. B. Nwoke Department of Animal & Environmental Biology, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
  • N. M. Akpan National Neglected Tropical Disease Control Division, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
  • V. Cama Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta Georgia, USA, Member NOEC
  • U. F. Ekpo Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
  • A. E. Idyorough Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
  • M. A. Mafe Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
  • H. B. Mafuyai Department of Zoology, University of Jos, Nigeria
  • E. Makata National Neglected Tropical Disease Control Division, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
  • E. Miri The Carter Center (TCC), Jos, Nigeria
  • K. N. Opara Department of Animal & Environmental Biology, University of Uyo, Nigeria
  • F. Richards The Carter Center (TCC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Keywords:

Control Efforts, Historical Background, Onchocerciasis, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is the most endemic country for onchocerciasis in the world and accounts for about 40% of the global cases. With about 50 million persons in over 40,000 communities at risk, it has been recognized as a communicable disease that is not only a social problem but also a major threat to productivity and the economy of the country. It is especially prevalent among the poor rural farmers, ‘‘people at the end of the road’’ living around the vector breeding sites who produce the bulk of our food and industrial raw materials. This review brings to focus the historical background of black fly and onchocerciasis control in Nigeria beginning from 1953 when the Oji power station-vector control operation was implemented and subsequently extended to River Niger at Lokoja, Kaduna River and the rivers in the Abuja emirate area. Other areas, which followed were Hawal River Valley and the Kainji Dam site in the 1950s and 1960s. The establishment of the National Onchocerciasis Control Programme (NOCP) in 1982, the introduction of mass ivermectin distribution in 1988 and the involvement of Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGDOs) and African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) were later progressions. This historical era of onchocerciasis control in Nigeria (from the 1950s and 2009) ended when there was evidence that long-term mass ivermectin distribution in endemic communities showed promise in the interruption of disease transmission and elimination. The strategies used and lessons learned during this era are highlighted.

         Views | Download: 384 / 342

References

Nwoke, B. E. B. (1987). Studies on the field epidemiology of human onchocerciasis on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. PhD Thesis,

University of Jos Nigeria pp 343.

Nwoke, B. E. B; Takahashi, H & Shiwaku, K. (1991). Nigerian onchocerciasis: epidemiological perspective. Japanese Journal of Tropical Medical Hygiene 19 (12): 191-201.

WHO (1987). WHO Expert Committee on Onchocerciasis. WHO Tech. Report Series. No. 752, WHO Geneva.

Nwoke, B. E. B; Dozie, I. N. S; Jiya, J. Y. & Gemade, E. I. I (1999). The present status of human onchocerciasis in southeastern Nigeria using rapid epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis (REMO). Nigerian Journal of Parasitology 19: 11-18.

Anon (2009). Exit Strategy of APOC from Nigeria, National Onchocerciasis Task Force, Nigeria. Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria.

Anon (2002). Second National Plan of Action for the Control of Onchocerciasis in Nigeria, 2003-2013. Federal Ministry of Health,Abuja, Nigeria

Nwoke, B. E. B. (1990). The socioeconomic aspects of human onchocerciasis in Africa: The present appraisal. Journal of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology & Immunology 34 (1): 37 – 44.

Jowett, S. & Ryan, T. C. (1985). Skin disease and handicap: An analysis of the impact of skin condition. Social Science & Medicine 20 (4): 425-429.

Cash, T., Kehi, J. A., Polyson, J. and Freeman, V. (1977). The role of physical attractiveness in peer attribution of psychological disturbance. Journal of Clinical Psychology 45:987-993.

Brieger, W. R., Oshiname, F. O. and Ososna, O. O. (1998). Stigma associated with onchocercal skin disease among those affected near the Ofiki and Oyan Rivers in Western Nigeria. Social Science Medicine 47 (7): 841-852.

Amazigo, U. V. (1994). Detrimental effects of onchocerciasis on marriage and breastfeeding. Tropical Geographical Medicine 46 (3): 322-325.

Nwoke, B. E. B., Nwoke, E. A. & Dozie, I. N. S. (2007). The socioeconomic impact of lymphatic filariasis in tropical countries. The

Negro Educational Review [USA]. 58(1-2): 5-22.

Nwoke, E. A. & Nwoke, B. E. B (2013) Neglected Tropical Diseases need more thandrugs. International Journal of Diseases &Disorder, 1(4): 047-052

Nwoke, B. E. B. & Oguariri, R. M. (1993). Tropical disease: Major obstacles to socioeconomic development in Nigeria. In Development Strategies for Nigeria. PP. 195-202. Aham Anyanwu & BEB Nwoke (Eds).Avan Global Pub. Okigwe, Nigeria.

Bradley, A. K. (1976), Effects of onchocerciasis on settlement in the Middle Hawal Valley, Nigeria, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 70(3): 225-229

Prost, A. & Vaugelade, J. (1981). La surmortalite des aveugles en zone de savane ouest-afriaine. Bulletin of World. Health. Organization 59: 773 – 776.

Duke, B. O. L. (1990). Human onchocerciasis: An overview of the disease. Acta Leidensia. 59 (1&2): 9 – 24.

Nwoke, B. E. B. & Ikonne, E. U. (1993). Onchocerciasis blindness. The Nigeria Situation. Nigerian Journal of Optometry. 7(1): 2-7.

Parsons, A. C. (1906). Filaria volvulus Leuckart. Its distribution, structure and pathological effects. Parasitology, 1: 359- 368

Austen, E. E. (1909). Illustration of African bloodsucking flies other than mosquitoes and tsetse flies. British Museum, pp 221,

London.

Dyce, S. (1926). A contribution on the study of Onchocerca volvulus Leuckart with some observations on its prevalence in Nigeria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 19: 373

Budden, F. H. (1956).The epidemiology of onchocerciasis in Northern Nigeria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 50:356-378

Ridley, H. & Anderson, J. (1950). A case of onchocerciasis in London and its treatment with Hetrazn, British Journal of Ophthalmology, 34:688-690

Crosskey, R. W. (1979). An appraisal of current knowledge of S. damnosum sl in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in relation to the development of an onchocerciasis control campaign. WHO/VCB/79.717, Geneva

Nwokolo, C. (1950). Studies on onchocerciasis. A review of 100 cases from Enugu of Eastern Nigeria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 53:491- 501

Nnochiri, E. (1964). Studies on the Epidemiology of Onchocerciasis in the Ibadan Area of Western Nigeria. West African Medical Journal, 1964: 139-150

Walsh, J. F. (1968). Fifty years of applied entomology in Nigeria: The Simuliidae and their control with reference to the Kanji control scheme. Proceedings of Entomological Society of Nigeria. Pp. 101- 106.

Crosskey, R. W. (1958). First results of the control of Simulium damnosum Theobald (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Northern Nigeria. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 49:715-735

Davies, J. B. (1963). An assessment of the insecticidal control of Simulium damnosum Theobald in Abuja Emirate, Northern Nigeria from 1955 to 1960 1: The effect on the prevalence of onchocerciasis in the human population. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 57: 161-181

Davies, J. B. (1968). The Simulium control scheme at Abuja, Northern Nigeria and its effect on the prevalence of onchocerciasis in

the area. Bulletin of. World. Health Org. 39:187-207.

Vajime, C. G. (1982). Cytological studies of Simulium damnosum in relation to the control of onchocerciasis in Nigeria. Proceedings of the First National Conference on Onchocerciasis in Nigeria. PP. 56-58, September 1-4, 1982, Kaduna, Nigeria.

African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) (1998) Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin: A Practical Guide for Trainers of Community Directed Distributors [online], APOC Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Alley, E. S, Plaiser, A. P., Boatin, B. A., Dazie, K. Y., Remme, J., Zerbo, G. & Samba, E. M. (1994) The impact of five years of annual ivermectin treatment on the skin microfilarial loads in the onchocerciasis focus of Asubende Ghana. Transaction of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and

Hygiene 88: 581 – 584.

Taylor, H. R., Pacque, M., Munoz, B. & Green, B. M. (1990). Impact of masstreatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin on the transmission of infection. Science. 250: 116 – 118.

WHO(2009) Moxidectin could dramatically speed up elimination of disease across Africa. WHO Press Release, 1 July 2009

Diawara, L., Traore, M. O., Badji, A., Bissan, Y., Doumbia, K., Goita, S. F. & Konaté, L. (2009). Feasibility of onchocerciasis elimination with ivermectin treatment pin endemic foci in Africa: first evidence from studies in Mali and Senegal, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 3(7):

e497

WHO/APOC (2009). Informal Consultation on Elimination of Onchocerciasis Transmission with Current Tools in Africa. WHO/APOC Document, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Anon (2012). Conceptual and Operational Issues in Onchocerciasis Elimination with Ivermectin Treatment. WHO/APOC Document, Burkina Faso.

WHO/APOC (2012) Epidemiological survey to assess progress towards elimination of onchocerciasis, WHO/APOC Document, Burkina Faso

Downloads

Published

2023-03-01

How to Cite

Nwoke, B. E. B., Akpan, N. M., Cama, V., Ekpo, U. F., Idyorough, A. E., Mafe, M. A., … Richards, F. (2023). Onchocerciasis in Nigeria 1: History of control efforts: https://doi.org/10.60787/qkam-wb02. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, (1). Retrieved from https://njpar.com.ng/index.php/home/article/view/356

Most read articles by the same author(s)