Context: More than 150 partners, including health officials, experts, and organizations, gathered in Senegal in November 2023 for the inaugural meeting of GONE.
- The primary goal was strengthening collaboration among countries and partners working toward onchocerciasis elimination.
GONE – Global Onchocerciasis Elimination Network
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GONE is a country-driven initiative supported by WHO, emphasizing being pragmatic, flexible and solutions-oriented to meet the needs of national programs.
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Launch: Launched in January 2023 by WHO, Member States, and partners.
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Goal: Empower countries to accelerate progress towards onchocerciasis elimination targets.
Key Focus Areas
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Strengthening Communication and Partnerships.
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Empowering Countries to Achieve Onchocerciasis Targets for 2030.
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Global Prevalence: Affects at least 244 million people in 31 countries, with Africa bearing 99% of the burden, and 1% in the border area between Brazil and Venezuela.
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Four countries have been verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating transmission of the disease: Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico.
Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
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Onchocerciasis - or "river blindness" - is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus transmitted by repeated bites of infected blackflies (Simulium spp.).
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These blackflies breed along fast-flowing rivers and streams, close to remote villages located near fertile land where people rely on agriculture.
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Onchocerciasis is an eye and skin disease.
Transmission and Effects
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Caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.
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Spread by black flies near fast-flowing rivers.
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Symptoms: Severe skin irritation, itching, and irreversible blindness.
Symptoms are caused by the microfilariae, which move around the human body in the subcutaneous tissue and induce intense inflammatory responses when they die.
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Infected people may show symptoms such as severe itching and various skin changes. Onchocerciasis occurs mainly in tropical areas.
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More than 99% of infected people live in 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Onchocerciasis is also transmitted in the Yanomami area of Brazil and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) as well as in Yemen.
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Global Impact: Second leading infectious cause of worldwide blindness. Classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by WHO.
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
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They are a diverse group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas.
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They are caused by various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins.
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These diseases cause devastating health, social and economic consequences to more than one billion people.
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They are ‘neglected’ because they are almost absent from the global health agenda.
Affected Populations