%0 Journal Article
%T Empowering communities in combating river blindness and the role of NGOs: case studies from Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda
%A Stefanie E O Meredith
%A Catherine Cross
%A Uche V Amazigo
%J Health Research Policy and Systems
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1478-4505-10-16
%X The four case studies presented here illustrate some key contributions the NGDOs made to the development of ¡°community directed treatment with ivermectin¡± ¨CCDTI, in Africa, which became the approved methodology within the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC). The partnership between the international, multilateral, government institutions and the NGDO Coordination Group was the backbone of the APOC programme¡¯s structure and facilitated progress and scale-up of treatment programmes. Contributions included piloting community¨Cbased methodology in Mali and Nigeria; research, collaboration and coordination on treatment strategies and policies, coalition building, capacity building of national health workforce and advocacy at the national and international level. While the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) and APOC provided leadership, the NGDOs working with the national health authorities played a major role in advocacy evolving the community methodology which led to achieving and maintaining- treatments with ivermectin for at least 20£¿years and strengthening community health systems.
%K Community¨Cbased
%K Community-directed
%K Onchocerciasis
%K Ivermectin distribution
%K NGO
%K APOC
%K MDP
%U http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/10/1/16/abstract