Each year, the Carter Center's River Blindness Elimination Program hosts a program review at The Carter Center in Atlanta. The reviews are modeled after those developed for the national Guinea Worm Eradication Programs by the health programs of The Carter Center, and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, beginning in Pakistan in 1988. The primary purpose of the reviews is to assess the status of each country program and to determine impediments and problems in program implementation.
Each country program is outlined with presentations with discussions focused on treatment and training activities, annual and ultimate treatment goals, health education, sustainability issues, Mectizan® security, epidemiological assessment activities, operations research, and administrative issues. Key aspects of the program reviews, supplemented by updated treatment data provided following the meetings, are summarized in these reports as are recommendations for the Center's River Blindness Elimination Program actions for the following year.
The Center’s Schistosomiasis Control Program and Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program are reviewed during the annual River Blindness Elimination Program review meeting.
Oct. 7, 2024
UOEEAC Final Report 2024 (PDF)
Proceedings of the 17th Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee (UOEEAC) meeting was held August 7-8, 2024, in Kampala, Uganda. The final report details general recommendations and current statuses of Ugandan foci with respect to post-elimination surveillance activities.
Sept. 27, 2024
Progress in Eliminating Onchocerciasis in the WHO Region of the Americas: Report from the 2023 IACO (PDF)
Published in the World Health Organization's Weekly Epidemiological Record, No 39, 2024, 99, 545-564.
The 33rd InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis (IACO) was held in Antigua, Guatemala, in November 2023. IACO recommendations for both onchocerciasis elimination programmes were as follows: 1) Continue to strengthen achievement of the coverage goal in each round, especially in communities that have had ≤15 effective treatment rounds; 2) Conduct a review of continuous effective treatment rounds over the past 12 years to verify that the operational indicator of ≥20 effective treatment rounds does not include significant periods of sequential missed treatment rounds; 3) Update community censuses, especially where reported coverage is >100%; 4) Confirm the results of the Ov-16 serology assessment by examining concordance of positive O-150 PCR in vector flies, for which the WHO entomology elimination threshold is <1 infectious fly per 2000.
Dec. 21, 2023
Summary: 2022 Virtual Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs | Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda (PDF)
The 27th Annual Review Meeting of the Carter Center River Blindness Elimination Program (RBEP) was held virtually from March 8-10, 2023. The Review highlighted successes of 2022, discussed challenges, and created recommendations for 2023.
Sept. 29, 2023
Progress in Eliminating Onchocerciasis in the WHO Region of the Americas: Advances Towards Interrupting the Transmission of Onchocerciasis from the Latest Preliminary Serological Assessments Conducted in Parts of the Yanomami Focus Area, 2018–2022 (PDF)
Published in the World Health Organization's Weekly Epidemiological Record, No 39, 2023, 98, 453–470.
Human onchocerciasis (river blindness) is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, transmitted by Simulium black flies that breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams. In the human host, adult male and female O. volvulus worms become encapsulated in subcutaneous fibrous “nodules”, and fertilized females produce embryonic microfilariae that migrate to the skin, where the black fly vectors ingest them during a blood meal. In the vector, the microfilariae develop into the infectious third larval stage, at which time they can be transmitted to the next human host via subsequent bites.
Sept. 13, 2022
Summary: 2021 Virtual Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs | Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda (PDF)
The 26th Annual Review Meeting of the Carter Center River Blindness Elimination Program (RBEP) was held virtually from Feb. 28 - March 2, 2022. The RBEP Atlanta-based staff, RBEP-assisted countries staff, Ministry of Health officials, key partners, and donors focused on the 2021 achievements, challenges, operatiotnal research, and recommendations for 2022 activities.
Aug. 23, 2022
UOEEAC Final Report 2022 (PDF)
Proceedings of the 15th Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee (UOEEAC) meeting was held August 3-5, 2022, in Kampala, Uganda. The final report details general and focus-specific recommendations, a proposed workplan for the following year, and an updated map of Onchocerciasis in the country.
Aug. 31, 2021
Summary: 2020 Virtual Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs | Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda (PDF)
The 25th Annual Review Meeting of the Carter Center River Blindness Elimination Program was held virtually from March 10–12, 2021. The Review focused on the 2020 achievements, challenges, operational research, and recommendations for 2021. In addition, the Review highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national onchocerciasis elimination programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
Aug. 9, 2021
UOEEAC InSight Special 2020 (PDF)
Proceedings of the 13th Session of the Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee meeting held August 4-6, 2020.
Aug. 9, 2020
UOEEAC InSight Special 2019 (PDF)
Proceedings of the 12th Session of the Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee meeting held August 6-8, 2019.
Sept. 18, 2020
Summary: 2019 Virtual Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs | Ethiopia, Nigeria, Oepa, Sudan, And Uganda (PDF)
Published by The Carter Center.
The 24th Annual Review Meeting of the Carter Center (TCC) River Blindness Elimination Program (RBEP), scheduled for March 11-13, 2020, in Atlanta, was canceled in the wake of the emerging 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The RBEP Atlanta staff held abbreviated virtual reviews between March 19 - 30, 2020, with each RBEP-assisted country’s staff and, in some countries, Ministry of Health (MOH) officials, focusing on the 2019 achievements, challenges, operational research, and recommendations for 2020 activities.
Oct. 28, 2019
Summary: 2018 Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center March 25-27, 2019, for programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
Nov. 1, 2018
River Blindness: The Beginning of the End
Published by The Non-Governmental Development Organisation (NGDO) Group for Onchocerciasis Elimination.
For over 40 years, a large global partnership has been battling river blindness. Great progress has been made, but it remains among the most prevalent of the NTDs and continues to cause misery among some of the world’s poorest people.
Oct. 1, 2018
Summary: 2017 Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center March 14-16, 2018, for programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
Sept. 15, 2017
Summary: 2016 Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center March 27-29, 2017, for programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Latin America.
Oct. 3, 2016
Summary: 2015 Program Review for the River Blindness Elimination Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center March 2-4, 2-16, for programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Latin America.
Oct. 8, 2015
Summary: 2014 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Elimination Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center Feb. 24-26, 2015, for programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Latin America.
July 9, 2015
Guidelines for the Certification of Onchocerciasis Elimination in Ethiopia (PDF)
This document was developed by the Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with all organizations that have been involved in the control of onchocerciasis in Ethiopia. Posted with permission.
Oct. 27, 2014
Summary: 2013 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Elimination Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on March 3 – 5, 2014, for programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Latin America.
Sept. 12, 2014
Elimination of Onchocerciasis in the WHO Region of the Americas: Ecuador's Progress Towards Verification of Elimination (PDF)
Published in the World Health Organization's Weekly Epidemiological Record, Sept. 12, 2014, 89th year, No. 37, 2014, 89, 401–408.
Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, which is transmitted by Simulium species (black flies) that breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams.
Oct. 15, 2013
Summary: 2012 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on March 5 – 7, 2013, for programs in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Latin America.
Sept. 21, 2012
Summary: 2011 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on Feb. 21 – Feb. 23, 2012, for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
Aug. 28, 2012
Insight Special Newsletter: Proceedings of Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee, 2011, 4th Session (PDF)
Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee (UOEEAC) in 2011 had its fourth session from Aug. 15–17. The host hospitality facility was Serena Hotel of Kampala, Uganda. The committee's task is to provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health on the elimination of onchocerciasis in Uganda.
Sept. 16, 2011
InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis, 2010: Progress Towards Eliminating River Blindness in the WHO Region of the Americas (PDF)
Published in the World Health Organization's Weekly Epidemiological Record, Sept. 16, 2011, 86th year, No. 38, 2011, 86, 417–424.
Onchocerciasis is a leading infectious cause of skin disease and blindness, particularly in Africa but also in 6 countries in the WHO Region of the Americas, and in Yemen. It is caused by Onchocerca volvulus, a parasitic worm which becomes encapsulated in fibrous tissue to form palpable subcutaneous nodules.
Sept. 1, 2011
Summary 2010 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on Feb. 28 – March 2, 2011, for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
July 1, 2011
Guidelines for Certification of Onchocerciasis Elimination in Uganda (PDF)
This Uganda Ministry of Health document has been developed in partnership with all stakeholders involved in the control and elimination of onchocerciasis in Uganda. Posted with permission.
01 de Mayo 2011
Oncocercosis – Endemia Rural De Los Rios Que Ciega (PDF)
Autor: Andrés Martín Tellaeche (Publicado con permiso). English translation: May 1, 2011; Onchocerciasis – A Blinding Disease Found Near Rivers in Rural Areas: A detailed history of the Mexican Onchocerciasis Program; Author: Andrés Martín Tellaeche. Posted with permission.
Oct. 1, 2010
Summary 2009 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on March 23-25, 2010, for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Americas, Sudan, and Uganda.
Aug. 13, 2010
Report from the 2009 Inter-American Conference on Onchocerciasis: progress towards eliminating river blindness in the Region of the Americas (PDF)
Published in Weekly Epidemiological Record, No. 33, 2010, 85, 321–328. © World Health Organization. The 19th annual conference was held in Río de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2009; the conference sought to address the unfinished elimination agenda.
Sept. 18, 2009
Report from the Eighteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis (PDF)
Published in the World Health Organization's Weekly Epidemiological Record, No. 38, 2009, 84, 385–396. © World Health Organization. River Blindness Report, presented to the InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Nov. 12–14, 2008.
16 Noviembre 2009
Vigilancia Epidemiológica Postratamiento (VEPT) con Mectizan en el Área de Salud de Huehuetenango (PDF)
Hoy día, en Huehuetenango, estamos diciéndole adiós a la Oncocercosis. Sin embargo, queremos asegurarnos de que no vuelva a aparecer por estas comunidades y para eso, nosotros y nosotras como trabajadores de los servicios de salud tenemos una importante tarea: realizar la Vigilancia Epidemiológica Postratamiento (VEPT).
Sept. 1, 2009
Summary 2008 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on Feb. 16-18, 2009, for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
Aug. 25, 2008
Summary 2007 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Held February 6-8, 2008, at The Carter Center in Atlanta for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
July 22, 2008
Onchocerciasis Report From the Seventeenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis (PDF)
River Blindness Report, presented to the InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis in Quito, Ecuador, November 15–17, 2007. Published in Weekly epidemiological record, World Health Organization, No. 29, 2008.
Oct. 29, 2007
Relatoría de la XVI Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 2006 (PDF)
La Décima Sexta Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis (IACO 2006) se llevó a cabo durante los días 07-09 de noviembre, en la ciudad de Antigua, Guatemala.
Sept. 1, 2007
Summary 2006 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Held April. 19-21, 2007, for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
Aug. 31, 2007
Onchocerciasis Report From the Sixteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis (PDF)
River Blindness Report, presented to the InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, Nov. 7-9. Published in Weekly epidemiological record, World Health Organization, No. 35, 2007.
June 1, 2007
Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication – 11 January 2007 (PDF)
The tenth meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) was convened at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. on 11 January 2007. Published in Weekly epidemiological record, World Health Organization, Nos. 22/23, 2007.
July 28, 2006
Onchocerciasis Report From the Fifteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis (PDF)
River Blindness Report, presented to the fifteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis in Caracas, Venezuela. Published in Weekly epidemiological record, World Health Organization, No. 30, 2006.
March 1, 2006
Summary 2005 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Held Feb. 20-22, 2006, at Hilton, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
Nov. 18, 2005
Relatoría de la XV Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 2005 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "Contribuyendo a reducir la ceguera y a mejorar la salud visual en las Américas." Caracas, Venezuela, 16 al 18/ de Noviembre 2005.
Aug. 1, 2005
Summary 2004 Program Review for The Lions-Carter Center SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Held March 3-5, 2005, at The Carter Center in Atlanta for programs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda.
July 29, 2005
Onchocerciasis Report From the Fourteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis (PDF)
River Blindness Report, presented to the fourteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Published in Weekly epidemiological record, World Health Organization, No. 30, 2005.
Nov. 30, 2004
Relatoría de la XIV Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 2004 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "Avanzando hacia el éxito." Atlanta, Georgia.
Aug. 20, 2004
Onchocerciasis Report From the Thirteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis (PDF)
River Blindness Report, presented to the thirteenth InterAmerican Conference on Onchocerciasis in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Published in Weekly epidemiological record, World Health Organization, No. 34, 2004.
July 12, 2004
2003 Program Review for The Carter Center/Lions SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Summary of the 2003 Program Review for The Carter Center/Lions SightFirst River Blindness Programs: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda, held Mar. 1-3, 2004.
March 27, 2003
2002 Program Review for The Carter Center/Lions SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Summary of the Feb. 26-28, 2003 Program Review (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda) held at The Carter Center, Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 21, 2002
XII Conferencia Interamericana Sobre Oncocercosis: IACO 2002 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "Nuevos enfoques para acelerar la eliminacion de la Oncocercosis." Manaus, Estado de Amazonas, Brasil, 19 al 21 de noviembre 2002.
July 23, 2002
2001 Program Review for The Carter Center/Lions SightFirst River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Summary of the 2001 Program Review for The Carter Center/Lions SightFirst River Blindness Programs: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda, held Mar. 13-15, 2002.
Jan. 24, 2002
Final Report of the Conference on the Eradicability of Onchocerciasis
Final Report of the Conference on the Eradicability of Onchocerciasis, The Carter Center, Cecil B. Day Chapel, Atlanta, Ga. Held Jan. 22-24, 2002, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, and The Carter Center.
Nov. 29, 2001
Relatoría de la XI Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 2001 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "¿Qué tan cerca estamos de la eliminación de la Oncocercosis?" México, D.F., 29 al 29 de Noviembre de 2001.
Sept. 12, 2001
2000 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Summary--2000 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Programs: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda, held Feb. 26-28, 2001.
Nov. 9, 2000
Relatoría de la X Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 2000 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "Nuevos retos en la iniciativa regional para la eliminación de la oncocercosis." Guayaquil, Ecuador, 07 al 09 de noviembre de 2000.
Sept. 29, 2000
Certification of Elimination of Human Onchocerciasis: Criteria and Procedures (PDF)
Following a World Health Organization meeting on "Criteria for certification of interruption of transmission/elimination of human onchocerciasis" in Geneva.
Sept. 25, 2000
1999 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Summary of the 1999 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Programs: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, OEPA, Sudan, and Uganda, held Feb. 7-9, 2000.
Nov. 11, 1999
Relatoría de la IX Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 1999 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "Comunidades centinelas." Antigua, Guatemala, 09 al 11 de noviembre de 1999.
Oct. 10, 1999
1998 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Program Review for Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Sudan, and OEPA, 17-19 February 1999, The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA.
Nov. 11, 1998
La Octava Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 1998 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "Estrategias para lograr altas coberturas y sostenibilidad del programa de tratamiento masivo con Mectizan®." Caracas, Venezuela, 17 al 19 de noviembre de 1998.
Oct. 1, 1998
1997 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Program Review for Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Sudan, and OEPA, 25-27 February 1998, The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA.
Nov. 21, 1997
La Séptima Conferencia Interamericana sobre Oncocercosis IACO 1997 (PDF)
Relatoria. Tema central: "Criterios para Certificación de Eliminación de Oncocercosis en América." Cali, Colombia; 19, 20 y 21 de noviembre de 1997.
Oct. 1, 1997
1996 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Programs (PDF)
Program Review for Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, and OEPA, 9-11 December 1996, The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA.
Oct. 1, 1996
1995 Program Review for Global 2000 River Blindness Program (PDF)
Program Review for Nigerian Onchocerciasis Control Program, 16 November 1995, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Please sign up below for important news about the work of The Carter Center and special event invitations.
