Report of the Second Meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup, Geneva, Switzerland, 12‒14 February 2018
Overview
The WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup (OTS) was established in order to provide advice to WHO in accordance with the terms of reference developed for the subgroup. The objectives of the 2nd meeting were to develop common strategies for mapping and ivermectin treatment in areas co-endemic for onchocerciasis and loiasis, review lessons learned from coevaluation of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) and apply them to current strategies, and begin standardization on entomological activities. The key conclusions and recommendations of the OTS are described below. Please not that many of the recommendations are provisional and thus may change over time as new evidence emerges. Evidence that emerges after the meeting will not be reflected in this report. Some lessons will have to be learned while programmes continue to strive to eliminate the transmission of onchocerciasis. Recommendations are based on consensus unless otherwise noted. When consensus could not be reached, operational research questionswere defined that should provide the evidence required to obtain a consensus in the future.
Elimination of transmission is a resource-intensive process. Experience with other diseases has demonstrated how important strong political and financial support is to maintain programme activities when the burden of remaining disease is low. It was suggested that a World Health Assembly resolution for the global elimination of onchocerciasis could help advocate for the resources needed and help maintain political support for the last mile. WHO secretariat was asked to provide information to attendees on the process for submitting a resolution proposal. The secretariat provided that information.
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