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News/Event Item
Yemen: Eradicating Onchocerciasis Could Take 10 Years - Local NGO
May 13, 2008
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, the rate was 10-55 percent. Efforts to combat the disease should continue, otherwise it will spread again," he said.
According to Awadh, onchocerciasis is found in eight governorates - Taiz, Ibb, Dhamar, Hajjah, Sanaa, Raimah, al-Hudeidah, and al-Mahwit. Locally, the disease in its severe form is also known as `sowda’ or `aswad’ (black) as a result of the swollen, darkened skin changes it engenders.
For full article, visit:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=78165
category: News from Other Sources : General Health News
contributed by Liza Nanni on 14 May 2008
Africa :
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