Sub-Saharan Africa is dominated by a series of lowland basins and highland plateaus with a few tropical savanna zones. The weather in these areas is characterized by a wet summer season and dry winter season (Sub-Saharan, n.d.). There are numerous fast flowing rivers throughout the region, which provides perfect breeding grounds for the black fly vectors of onchocerciasis (Maps, 2015). The areas near riverbanks are characterized by rich, fertile soil with high crop yields (WHO, 2016a). However, the increased risk of blindness due to onchocerciasis infections has caused more and more people to leave the rich river valleys for the less fertile upland country. The result of this mass migration is decreased food production throughout the region, and overcrowding in highland communities (WHO, 2016a).

 

Small farms in these less fertile areas have attempted to improve soil quality using agroforestry systems, which place high value trees with food crops to diversify landscapes and prevent nutrient depletion, and water harvesting practices to supply water to dry soils used for farming (Araba, 2014). However, this is only a temporary fix. It is not feasible to move this solution to a larger scale in the region. With 27% of people currently undernourished in Africa, and the population set to double by 2050, there is pressure of government officials to find a solution to the economic strife caused by migration due to fear of onchocerciasis (Araba, 2014).

 

In the 1970’s, the economic losses were approximately US$30 million (End Fund, 2016). Unfortunately, there is not good data on the economic losses due to the onchocerciasis. However, it can be assumed that the losses are still fairly high. As previously stated the disease causes an inability to maintain the fertile land, so there is a mass migration to less fertile areas to live. The effects of onchocerciasis go well beyond this loss of farm land. The daily life of infected individuals is negatively impacted even after the infection is cured.

 

Those that have been cured of the disease have permanent skin deformities that limit their daily life. They are stigmatized in their communities especially the young women which affects their age of marriage and what kind of partners they marry. Men experience the negative affects through 15% lower wages than those who haven’t been affected (Ubachukwu, 2006).  Even beyond the stigmatization associated with skin deformities, individuals infected with onchocerciasis experience detrimental impacts due to blindness or impaired vision.