Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
- The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation has provided financial assistance to the global effort to eradicate guinea worm. Norway, along with twelve other donor countries, has contributed to the estimated $87.5 million cost of the campaign. The program has led to a 99 percent reduction in disease prevalence. Since the start of the campaign in 1986, the number of cases has fallen from 3.5 million to less than 35,000.
- NORAD was one of 22 countries that contributed $560 million in donor assistance to the 28-year onchocerciasis control program in west Africa. As a result of the program, transmission was halted in 11 west African countries; 600,000 cases of blindness were prevented; and 22 million children born in the program area are now free from the risk of river blindness. Furthermore, 25 million hectares of arable land - enough to feed an additional 17 million people - are now safe for resettlement.
- Norway contributed just under $1 million to the global smallpox eradication campaign between 1967-1979. Smallpox was eradicated in 1977.
