What we do

River Blindness

River BlindnessRiver blindness is caused by a parasitic worm and is spread by the blackfly which breeds in fast-flowing rivers. Eighteen million people worldwide are currently infected with river blindness and another 40 million are at risk of developing the disease.

  • River blindness is prevalent in small, remote communities, where there is often little medical help.
  • There is no cure for river blindness, but it can be prevented.
  • Just one dose of Mectizan®, costing just 90c to provide (or €9.00 for a complete course), will halt the advance of blindness in an infected person.