WHO declares Ecuador free of river blindness

Assessing whether traditional and complementary practices work was explicitly among the strategy’s stated aims.

WHO announced a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after emergency committee advice.

The declaration called for international assistance to affected West African countries.

The response depended on local caregivers, safe care and contact tracing amid serious risks.

The declaration marked international concern; it was not the beginning or end of the outbreak.

Repeated ivermectin distribution and surveillance supported elimination.

Ecuador became the second country verified free of river blindness after Colombia.

The announcement recognized interrupted transmission, with monitoring still relevant.

WHO reports President Boni Yayi addressing the regional committee on this date during a debate on stronger health systems.

At the Cotonou meeting, Boni Yayi asked African countries to consider conventional and traditional medicine in health cooperation.