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Innovative approaches to reduce the burden of disease caused by onchocerciasis
The project will be testing the effectiveness of innovative approaches to tackle onchocerciasis in South Sudan, to reduce onchocerciasis transmission and prevent onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy.
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Principal Investigator: Dr. Gasim Abd-Elfarag
Purpose
This project aims to sustainably reduce the disease and social burden caused by onchocerciasis in villages affected by conflict in South Sudan. The study will implement and test innovative, cost-effective community-based interventions to prevent children from developing onchocerciasis and its associated morbidities, including epilepsy and nodding syndrome. The project seeks to decrease the suffering of those affected by epilepsy in onchocerciasis endemic regions in South Sudan.
Dr. Gasim Abd-Elfarag
Amref Health Africa
Evidence-based interventions are key in addressing diseases that debilitate communities. This research is expected to provide the needed evidence to decrease the burden of disease caused by onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy through effective community-based interventions.
Expected Outcomes
The research will produce evidence on how to reduce the burden of disease caused by onchocerciasis in conflict affected settings through implementation of innovative, cost effective, community-based interventions. It aims to provide proof that optimising treatment and care provided to people living with epilepsy, including nodding syndrome, will improve their quality of life and enhance their social integration. This should have consequent positive economic and societal impacts on affected families and villages.
Latest Updates
The fight to cure South Sudan's mysterious neurological disorder
Mar 2024
This study is featured in The Guardian's article on nodding syndrome in South Sudan.
A community data collector interviewing and screening a family for epilepsy (nodding syndrome) cases during the post-intervention epilepsy survey in villages in Maridi, 2022. Credit: Dr. Stephen Jada/Amref
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