Pilot Training of Community Mobilizers as Health Educators to Prevent Onchocerciasis in Bugai, Kaduna State, Nigeria

About 33 million Nigerians are at risk of onchocerciasis (river blindness) including people in Bugai community where the prevalence is high. This is attributed to poor knowledge of preventive measures, so there is a need to empower people with health information. This pilot study aimed at training 38 volunteered community leaders as mobilizers with the intention of using them to disseminate health information on prevention of onchocerciasis to the entire Bugai community. The intervention study made use of an adapted preventive health education manual. Selection was based on interest and influential ability of the mobilizers. Pre- and post-test on knowledge of prevention was conducted. Post-test results showed increased knowledge due to significant effect of the training (P = 0.00). Thereafter, the trained community mobilizers disseminated the same information to the entire community. Overall result showed that empowering people with adequate health information is a good means of preventing onchocerciasis where prevalence is high.