Eradicating onchocerciasis could take 10 years – local NGO [Archives:2008/1155/Local News]

SANAA, 13 May 2008 (IRIN) – A local non-governmental organisation (NGO) has said it will take 8-10 years to eradicate onchocerciasis, a disease which leads to skin irritation and in some cases blindness, although much progress has been made in fighting the disease.

Isam Addin Awadh, head of the onchocerciasis control programme at the Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW), told IRIN onchocerciasis was present in 34 countries, including Yemen. He said the average rate of infection in Yemen had dropped to less than 5 percent. “More than three years ago