Community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI)

Helping communities help themselves

APOC Trained volunteers distribute ivermectin in a village in Nkom, Cameroon

Community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) is at the heart of APOC’s work to eliminate onchocerciasis. The strategy relies on active community participation. It focuses on empowering communities to take responsibility for ivermectin delivery – deciding how, when and by whom the ivermectin treatment should be administered.

In the rural populations of sub-Saharan Africa where health systems are weak and under-resourced, the community-directed treatment strategy is proving to be one of Africa’s most successful in reducing disease at low cost.

COMMUNITY-DIRECTED TREATMENT (CDTI) - How CDTI began - Setting up CDTI: how it works and who does what - Community-directed distributors (CDDs) - CDTI projects - Achievements IVERMECTIN - Ivermectin: the treatment for onchocerciasis STRENGTHENING HEALTH SYSTEMS - Strengthening health systems

PRESS RELEASE - National Taskforces strategize on river blindness control in Africa [pdf 46kb] 3 July 2008 - Experts advocate multiple intervention approach for disease control [pdf 49kb] 29 June 2008 MAPPING - Rapid epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis (REMO) - Status of onchocerciasis in APOC countries - Mapping co-infection with Loa loa (RAPLOA)

Yaoundé declaration
African ministers of health renew their commitment to eliminate onchocerciasis.
Full text

Dr Uche V. Amazigo
Director, APOC
B.P. 549
Ouagadougou 01
Burkina Faso
Email: info_apoc@oncho. afro.who.int