Findings After 25 years of Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) in Galadimawa, A Mesoendemic Onchocercal Community in Kaduna State: Community Ophthalmology

Olufemi E Dokun-Babalola; Amos Bassi

Authors

Olufemi E Dokun-Babalola Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology Unit, Bingham University, Jos.
Amos Bassi Department of Community Medicine, Bingham University, Jos.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact on blindness and other health and socio-economic indices after 25 years of Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin in Galadimawa, a mesoendomic onchocercal community in Kaduna State

Introduction: Galadimawa is a large village in Kauru Local government of Kaduna state which was part of the population examined during the Randomised control trial of ivermectin safety and efficacy in 1991. (Abiose et al)[1]. The community was selected as one of several in Nigeria to undergo CDTI. This commenced in 1989. In this study, we examined the impact, if any of CDTI on this community and by extension the Kauru onchocerciasis focus. A recent survey carried out in the same area suggested that the community microfilaria load as evidenced by skin snips was now zero[2] .

Methods: Permission to assess the community was obtained from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health. After 25 years of dosing with ivermectin, the community of Galadimawa was re-examined for prevalence and causes of blindness. This was done by an Examination of the Visually Disabled. Focus Group Discussions were held with members of the community Findings were compared with the situation in 1989 before dosing commenced.

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References

Abiose A, Jones BR, Cousens SN, Murdoch I, Cassels-Brown A, Babalola OE et al. (1993) Reduction In Incidence Of Optic Nerve Disease With Annual Ivermectin To Control Onchocerciasis. Lancet Vol 341 130 et Seq. Also, Mabey: Lancet Leader 1993 Vol 341: Onchocerciasis: Ivermectin and Onchocercal Optic Nerve Lesion.

Tekle AH, Elhassan E, Isiyaku S, Amazigo UV, Bush S, Noma M, Cousens S, Abiose A, Remme JH. Impact of long-term treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin in Kaduna State, Nigeria: First evidence of the [potential for elimination in the operational area of the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control. Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:28 . http:// www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/ 5/1/28 )

Abdull MM, Sivasubramaniam S, Murthy GV, Gilbert C, Abubakar T, Ezelum C, Rabiu MM. Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Study Group. Causes of blindness and visual impairment in Nigeria: the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Sep; 50(9):4114- 4120.