Lupetu's Story

You could help to eliminate River Blindness with a pill costing just 16p per person, per year to deliver.

Onchocerciasis, commonly known as River Blindness, is one of the most agonizing and painful conditions that you can imagine, and is caused by a parasite transmitted by flies. If detected early enough, blindness can be prevented, but left untreated, it causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and cornea. River Blindness is one of the most cruel causes of blindness, yet is preventable.

Lupetu is 57 years old and lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a household of 8; including her daughter and two grandchildren. She was an active farmer, but for 8 years she has been living with the condition of Onchocerciasis.

In the beginning, she had itching on her arms and legs, but as a result of regular dosage of medication from CBM, she no longer has these symptoms. Unfortunately, her eyesight had already been lost due to the River Blindness, and she can no longer help her family with their farming.

The parasite that blinded Lupetu could be eliminated, because the drug that can stop it is free.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Mectizan is 100% effective in stopping the spread of Onchocersiasis, commonly known as River Blindness.

Although each tiny Mectizan pill is donated free, it still costs £24 to deliver enough to keep a whole village - or 150 people - free of the parasite. It is too late for Lupetu, but her daughter and grandchildren stand every chance of maintaining good eyesight for a lifetime, if only we can continue reaching their community with enough Mectizan to stop the spread of the parasite.

If you can help provide sufficient Mectizan to enough families across a wide enough area, the parasite will eventually die out completely. The treatment you could provide can have permanent results when River Blindness is, in time, eliminated from whole villages, then whole regions.

The parasite that blinded Lupetu could be eliminated, because the drug that can stop it is free."

Your gift today could help put this special pill into the hands of thousands of people, helping to eliminate the spread of bacteria that cause River Blindness:

A gift of £24 will provide Mectizan to prevent River Blindness in 150 people.
A gift of £48 will provide Mectizan to prevent River Blindness in 300 people.
A gift of £61 will screen a whole school for River Blindness.