River Blindness in Nigeria, September 2011
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Credit: Kate Holt/IrinA woman pouring water into her bucket from a river is at risk of contracting river blindness, or onchocerciasis, a parasitic disease caused by the roundworm. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinA young girl with river blindness carries on getting water from the river. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinYoung boys bathe in this river too. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinA young girl receives the the drug ivermectin, or Mectizan, which is used to treat river blindness. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinHelen and her brother Jacob complete their school work after taking Mectizan treatment. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinAn elderly woman who was infected with river blindness many years ago is assisted by her granddaughter as she tries to walk. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinThe granddaughter also helps her grandmother when she's at home. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinAnother woman walks to the river to collect water. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinA woman farms rice on her farm in Ungwaku 1, in Kaduna State. In some states, river blindness has affected agriculture as people move away from rivers to try to avoid the disease. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinA woman shells groundnuts in her home. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinA health worker with the NGO Sight Savers educates members of the community in Kajura District, Kaduna State, about the importance of taking Mectizan treatment. -
Credit: Kate Holt/IrinCommunity volunteers offer assistance to dispense Mectizan.
