African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC)

Equatorial Guinea

Onchocerciasis status

Onchocerciasis is endemic in Bioko Island, which is situated off the coast of Cameroon and Gabon. In Bioko Island, community-directed treatment with ivermectin has been supplemented by activities to eliminate the blackfly vector of onchocerciasis. In 2005, the Simulium yahense Bioko form of the vector was eliminated from the island.

Rapid epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis in Equatorial Giunea, showing areas (in red) where community-directed treatment with ivermectin is needed

This map is an approximation of actual country borders.

People affected by onchocerciasis

  • Number of communities in meso/hyper endemic (red) areas (2006): data not available
  • Total population in meso/hyper endemic (red) areas (2007): 74 202

Projects

  • Number of current community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) projects (2007): 1
  • Date first community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) project was launched: 1998
  • Number of national onchocerciasis task force (NOTF)-secretariat supported projects (2007): 0
  • Number of vector elimination projects: 1

NOTF-secretariat supported project is based at national level and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of all CDTI projects in the country and ensuring the availability of ivermectin.

Ivermectin coverage

Geographical coverage (2007)
  • Number of communities treated with ivermectin: 129
  • Treatment target (number of communities): 129
  • Geographic coverage: 100%
Therapeutic coverage (2007)
  • Number of people treated with ivermectin: 50 064
  • Treatment target (number of people): 70 207
  • Therapeutic coverage: 71.3%

Training

  • Number of trained or retrained community-directed distributors, CDDs (2007): 387
  • Number of people per community-directed distributor, CDD (2007): 181
  • Number of trained or retrained health workers: 16

Funds

Projects are funded from three primary sources:

  • the APOC Trust Fund
  • the government of the country where the projects are being implemented
  • funds from non-governmental development organization partners.

Partners

International non-governmental development organization (NGDO) partners (2007):

  • University of Barcelona (until 2002)

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