Uganda Moves Closer to Eliminating River Blindness

Uganda is on track to being declared free of river blindness following decades of government-led interventions, Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has announced.

Speaking at World Hepatitis Day celebrations in Pader District on Friday, Aceng said blackflies, the vectors responsible for transmitting the parasite, no longer carry the disease within Uganda.

However, she cautioned that cross-border infections remain a challenge

“The only setback is refugees coming from South Sudan with the parasite. As long as they mingle with our population, it becomes difficult for Uganda to be declared fully free,” Aceng said, adding that screening at entry points has already identified three cases among refugees.

The minister explained that while the flies remain present, they no longer pose a risk of transmission to Ugandans, thanks to the elimination campaign.

She also emphasised the need for rehabilitation of children previously affected by the disease.
At the same event, government launched the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine, a critical addition to Uganda’s immunisation schedule aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

Aceng highlighted the urgency of this measure, pointing to the high prevalence of Hepatitis B in northern Uganda, where infection rates reach 9 percent, compared to 4.8 percent in the east and 2.6 percent in the west.
“Most liver cancer cases we see are linked to Hepatitis B, especially in Northern Uganda. That is why government is putting emphasis on prevention. Prevention is the way to go,” she said.
Aceng appealed to communities to embrace immunisation, dismissing myths and misinformation that have hampered vaccine uptake in the Acholi sub-region.
She cited Uganda’s success in eliminating smallpox and curbing polio as proof of the effectiveness of vaccines.
“The future of our health depends on vaccination. If we don’t take it seriously, diseases like polio can return,” she warned.

The World Health Organisation is expected to assess Uganda’s progress on river blindness elimination, while the Ministry of Health continues scaling up hepatitis prevention and rehabilitation programs for affected populations.