IMPLICATIONS OF ONCHOCERCIASIS ON THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN OF SCHOOL GOING AGE IN APESOKUBI IN JASIKAN DISTRICT OF GHANA

CHAPTER ONE  

1.0 Introduction  

1.1 Background to the study  

Over the past three decades, pragmatic attempts were made by past Governments of 

Ghana in collaboration with the West African Onchocerciasis Control Programme 

(O.C.P.) to eradicate Onchocerciasis in endemic areas. The programme which took off in 

1974, was very successful in eradicating black flies as the vector for onchocerciasis in the 

country until 1994 when the programme officially ended.  Many inhabitants who hitherto 

had abandoned the fertile lands along river banks where the prevalent rate was high had 

returned as a result of the success of the O.C.P.  This means that the black flies had also 

been liquidated from these areas.