Integrated Prevalence Assessment of Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus in Three Co-Endemic Districts of Gambella Region, Ethiopia.

"The Lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey proposal was submitted to the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), and then the FMOH submitted to Regional Program Review Group at the WHO-AFRO for further approval. The addition of Onchocerca volvulus 16 testing was approved by regional, zonal, and woreda health offices. Support letters were obtained from regional, zonal, and woreda health offices and dispatched to each selected kebele’s administration units (note that woredas are the implementation unit in Ethiopia, and kebeles are the lowest administrative unit within woredas). Briefing zonal and woreda heath offices and kebele administration on the purpose of the study was done to facilitate community mobilization before the actual survey began. The health workers obtained verbal consent from parents, guardians, or a responsible adult in the family before proceeding with blood sample collection."

"Financial support: Funding for this study has been provided by the Lions Clubs International Foundation through the Lions-Carter Center SightFirst Initiative, and the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, housed within The END Fund, a multi-donor fund, initiated and led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates."