Context:

• More than 150 partners, including health officials, experts, and organizations, gathered in Senegal in November 2023 for the inaugural meeting of GONE initiative.
• The primary goal was strengthening collaboration among countries and partners working toward onchocerciasis elimination.

GONE Initiative – Global Onchocerciasis Elimination Network

• GONE initiative is a country-driven initiative supported by WHO, emphasizing being pragmatic, flexible and solutions-oriented to meet the needs of national programs.
• Launch:Gone Initiative launched in January 2023 by WHO, Member States, and partners.
• Goal: Empower countries to accelerate progress towards onchocerciasis elimination targets.
• Key Focus Areas of GONE Initiative
  • Strengthening Communication and Partnerships
  • Empowering Countries to Achieve Onchocerciasis Targets for 2030
• 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.
  • 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)

• Global Impact
  • Second leading infectious cause of worldwide blindness.Classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by WHO.
• Affected Populations
  • Affects people in isolated and underserved rural communities.
  • Concentrated in some of the world’s poorest regions.
• Transmission and Effects
  • Caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.
  • Spread by black flies near fast-flowing rivers.
  • Symptoms: Severe skin irritation, itching, and irreversible blindness.

News Source: WHO