This qualitative assessment of implementation challenges for onchocerciasis programming aims at understanding the reasons behind continued high prevalence of onchocerciasis in seven communities in Sierra Leone. The study uses qualitative data collection methods (key informant interviews and focus group discussions) with programme implementers and community members.

•  To identify the sub-group, population or geographical areas that are not reached nor beneficiaries of the annual mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin
• To identify the drivers of low-treatment coverage
• To identify the challenges faced by community drug distributors and frontline health workers in implementing MDA
• To harvest suggested solutions or approaches to tackling the implementation challenges to MDA

The outputs from this study are expected to:

1. Generate specific programmatic solutions to address poor coverage
2. Evidence how qualitative approaches may be used to leverage local knowledge around reasons for poor compliance and facilitate the co-creation of solutions

• Qualitative