Tools
Tools
Molyneux, David 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8537-7947 and Nantulya, V.
(2005)
'Public-private partnerships in blindness prevention: reaching beyond the eye'. Eye, Vol 19, Issue 10, pp. 1050-1056.
Abstract
The control of river blindness (onchocerciasis) has been one of the major public health achievements of recent decades. Initially, vector control was used to stop transmission of the parasite Onchocerca volvulus by blackflies (Simulium) but the introduction of ivermectin (Mectizan) as a means of morbidity control enabled new strategies of distribution to be developed based on community directed treatment. The donation of Mectizan by Merck & Co. Inc. for onchocerciasis control in 1987 `as long as needed' was a public health landmark to be followed by a donation from GlaxoSmithKline of albendazole in 1997 for lymphatic filariasis to which Merck also responded by agreeing to extend their donation to include the coadministration of Mectizan and albendazole. Both the drugs, however, have wider impacts than those specific to filarial parasites and are effective against a range of intestinal parasites, whilst ivermectin has an important effect on ectoparasites. The wider benefits of the annual public health intervention-collateral benefits-therefore include deworming, improved nutritional status, increased growth, improved school performance and attendance, and improved haemoglobin status as a result of the impact of albendazole on hookworm, a major cause of anaemia. More recently, studies suggest that worm-free children have a significantly reduced frequency of malaria specific episodes of fever and Ascaris-infected children have a two-fold higher frequency of cerebral or severe malaria than those without Ascaris. These findings suggest that programmes based on annual interventions to control river blindness and lymphatic filariasis can contribute disproportionately more to a range of public health problems than has been hitherto recognized, thereby assisting in attaining the millennium development goal targets.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | onchocerciasis ivermectin albendazole filariasis malaria millennium development goals loa-loa infection lymphatic filariasis onchocerciasis control ivermectin mectizan(r) mass treatment program prevalence health elimination targets |
| Subjects: | QV Pharmacology > QV 38 Drug action. QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 505 Diptera QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 600 Insect control. Tick control WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 885 Onchocerciasis |
| Faculty: Department: | Groups (2002 - 2012) > Disease Control Strategy Group |
| Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6701961 |
| Depositing User: | Ms Julia Martin |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Aug 2011 15:51 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Feb 2018 13:02 |
| URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/1888 |
Statistics
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit Item |