Niger becomes first African country verified free of river blindness

Publication date: discussions covered policy frameworks, quality and safety alongside service delivery.

WHO validated elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem.

Screening and treatment helped reduce sleeping sickness in affected communities.

The WHO finding concerns the gambiense form and a public health threshold.

WHO recognized Guinea’s sustained national effort and local participation.

Long-term treatment and surveillance helped stop transmission of river blindness.

Niger joined countries in the Americas that had already achieved WHO verification.

The WHO finding concerns transmission of onchocerciasis, not the end of all neglected diseases.

Mission 2027 set out a national strategy to expand HPV vaccination, screening and treatment.

The plan targeted vaccination for girls and screening for adult women.