ECONOMIC-IMPACT OF ONCHOCERCIASIS CONTROL THROUGH THE AFRICAN PROGRAMFOR ONCHOCERCIASIS CONTROL - AN OVERVIEW

This note overviews several studies that have been conducted on the ec onomic impact of onchocerciasis (river blindness) control through the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC). A cost-benefit an alysis of the APOC concludes that the programme is highly cost-effecti ve. The economic rate of return (ERR) is 17% if benefits are considere d in accordance with the stated objective of the programme (i.e. the a chievement of long-term, sustainable, ivermectin-delivery systems). Ho wever, the cost-benefit analysis significantly under-estimates the net benefits from the APOC, since it considers, for ease of quantificatio n, only the reduction in blindness as the principal benefit accruing f rom control activities. Recent studies, summarized here, have shown th at there may be substantial benefits tin terms of enhanced productivit y, increased household-level welfare, and reduced health-related expen diture, for instance) resulting from the reduction of the skin-related symptoms associated with the disease.