01895nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001653001600042653001300058653001400071653001900085653000900104100001800113700001200131700001900143700001600162700001400178245010700192856007700299300000700376490000600383520125000389022001401639       2019                            d10aElimination10aEpilepsy10aMorbidity10aonchocerciasis10aMMDP1 aColebunders R1 aStolk W1 aSiewe Fodjo JN1 aMackenzie C1 aHopkins A00aElimination of onchocerciasis in Africa by 2025: an ambitious target requires ambitious interventions.  uhttps://idpjournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40249-019-0593-x  a830 v83 a<p>To achieve the elimination of onchocerciasis transmission in all African countries will entail enormous challenges, as has been highlighted by the active discussion around onchocerciasis intervention strategies and evaluation procedures in this journal.Serological thresholds for onchocerciasis elimination, adapted for the African setting, need to be established. The Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup of the World Health Organization is currently developing improved guidelines to allow country elimination committees to make evidence-based decisions. Importantly, onchocerciasis-related morbidity should not be forgotten when debating elimination prospects. A morbidity management and disease prevention (MMDP) strategy similar to that for lymphatic filariasis will need to be developed. This will require collaboration between the onchocerciasis elimination program, the community and other partners including primary health and mental health programs.In order to reach the goal of onchocerciasis elimination in most African countries by 2025, we should prioritize community participation and advocate for tailored interventions which are scientifically proven to be effective, but currently considered to be too expensive.</p>
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