Abibit Abejaw

Ethiopian ophthalmologist who eliminated river blindness in the Gambela region through community health networks

Dr. Abibit Abejaw (b. 1965) became a medical innovator in 1990s Ethiopia by eradicating river blindness (onchocerciasis) in Gambela. Developing a unique community-driven approach, she trained 1,200 local health workers to administer Mectizan treatments door-to-door. Her 1996 'Community Directed Treatment' model reduced infection rates from 87% to below 1% in 5 years.

Abejaw's 1998 creation of the Gambela Vision Network integrated eye care with agricultural training, teaching farmers to cultivate medicinal plants alongside cash crops. This dual strategy improved both health and economic outcomes, raising household incomes by 300% in project areas. Her work inspired the WHO's 2001 'Integrated Neglected Tropical Disease Control' guidelines.

Her memoir 《Sight Beyond Sight》 details her challenges in post-conflict regions. Abejaw's 2000 documentary 《The River and the Cure》 highlighted community health strategies. Today, her methods are replicated in 14 African countries through the Abejaw Health Initiative, which she founded in 2005.