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- Once upon a time, there was a fly
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born in African rivers
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and to live it had to bite humans,
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and when it did, the fly became
infected with tiny worms.
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When the fly bit another person,
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the worms entered their skin and grew up.
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They m it and their baby worms migrated,
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causing unbearable, itching,
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and ultimately blindness.
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In Africa, children
would lead their blinded
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elders with sticks.
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Millions of people were affected.
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Millions of acres were uninhabitable,
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trapping people in poverty.
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Something had to be done
about this little fly.
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1974, something was done
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using helicopters,
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spraying insecticides into
rivers in 11 African countries.
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It was called the Onco
Psychiatrist Control Program,
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where it was tried, it worked.
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The disease stopped spreading.
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People returned to farm,
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but the existing infections carried On
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19 90, 11, 30 countries had been treated.
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19 more countries to go.
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Then a drug used to fight heartworm
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and dogs is reexamined.
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Turns out in people,
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it works like a miracle
on river blindness,
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killing the larvae,
preventing new infections,
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stopping the itching
immediately, putting an end
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to infected people, going blind.
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Merck donates all the pills
needed to control the disease.
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Just one or two pills a year
per person, no exceptions.
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1995 apoch is begun
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to help countries identify
needs and satisfy those needs.
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From there, the communities take charge.
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Thanks to many donors,
smart organizations,
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determined countries,
the infected are better.
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Communities are transformed.
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Today, all affected countries
in Africa are being treated at
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a fraction of the cost.
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Less money is going further.
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Some areas are now of the disease
and treatment has stopped.
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The success is unprecedented.
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Put this be the end of river blindness
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By 2025, we can eliminate river blindness,
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but Haycock is scheduled to end.
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If we stop, river
blindness will come back.
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We must finish the job.
