Scorecard Approach to Eliminate Onchocerciasis in Venezuela.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Tropical Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Onchocerciasis remains endemic in the Amazon, specifically in the Yanomami Focus Area spanning Brazil and Venezuela.
• Mass drug administration of ivermectin has successfully eliminated onchocerciasis in 11 of 13 foci in the Americas.
• The remaining transmission zone presents unique challenges including remoteness and population mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of the Scorecard Approach (SCA), a data-driven tool for prioritizing onchocerciasis control efforts.
• To enhance programmatic efficiency and planning in the Venezuela South Focus.
• To support the goal of interrupting onchocerciasis transmission in the Americas by 2025.

Main Methods:

• The Scorecard Approach (SCA) was developed to assign numeric scores based on epidemiological and logistical variables.
• Communities were categorized into high, medium, and low priority based on composite scores.
• The SCA has been applied annually since 2018 to the 393 communities in the Venezuela South Focus.

Main Results:

• In 2022, the SCA categorized 54 communities (13.7%) as high priority, 108 (27.5%) as medium priority, and 231 (58.8%) as low priority.
• The SCA effectively addresses challenges such as remoteness, vast territories, and the semi-nomadic, cross-border movements of the Yanomami population.
• Prioritization based on risk and need increases the feasibility of onchocerciasis elimination.

Conclusions:

• The Scorecard Approach is a valuable strategy for planning, monitoring, and maximizing efficiency in onchocerciasis control programs.
• Implementing the SCA facilitates targeted interventions in the most vulnerable communities within the Yanomami Focus Area.
• Prioritizing high-risk communities is crucial for achieving the elimination of onchocerciasis in the Americas by 2025.