Nepal makes progress against trachoma

26 Feb 2009

Paul Chinnock

Source: International Trachoma Initiative (see original article)

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Nepal appears to be on track to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2014, according to the findings of a review of progress against the disease released at a meeting of national and international trachoma control partners in Kathmandu.

Trachoma, an infectious eye disease, has blinded or irreversibly impaired the sight of eight million people living today; 41 million more people suffer from active infection, endangering their sight. An estimated six million Nepalese are currently at risk of trachoma infection, with more than 32,000 already blinded by the disease. Another 245,000 suffer from active trachoma, and active trachoma prevalence rates among children aged 1-9 are as high as 32.7% in some parts of the western region of Nepal.

Now, however, the review has shown show that, following a concerted effort by government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the goal of elimination of active trachoma has been reached in five of Nepal’s administrative districts. The trachoma programme utilises the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy for trachoma control (surgery; antibiotics; facial cleanliness; and environmental improvement).

National ownership

Partners in the trachoma programme represented at the launch of the findings included the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), the Nepal National Trachoma Control Programme (NTP) the Nepal Ministry of Health & Population, the Department of Water Supply & Sewerage, Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, the Lions Club International Federation, and Helen Keller International.

“Today, Nepal is on track to eliminate blinding trachoma despite the political challenges during the past four years,” said B B Thapa, Programme Director of the Nepal NTP: “Our achievements have been due to the hard work and active participation of all our partners, who not only include governmental agencies and nongovernmental and international organizations, but also the staff of our eye hospitals, and many thousands of community health volunteers, health workers, school teachers and staff from water supply and sanitation. We will reach our goal so long as we have active and continued support from each of our partners.”

ITI President Ibrhaim Jaba said: “We are thrilled to see that Nepal has taken full ownership of the programme and is on course for reaching the goal of blinding trachoma elimination.” He stressed the importance of continuing to scale up efforts in all trachoma endemic districts and to mobilize resources to clear the backlog of patients needing surgical treatment, so that Nepal can achieve elimination in the next five years.

The review of progress covered a two-year period from 2005, when a Five-Year Trachoma Control Strategic Plan, was launched, to 2007. Objectives included: assessment of progress towards achieving the strategic plan targets, adequacy of current work plans and methods, and the constraints and barriers still to be overcome.

The key challenges ahead for Nepal in eliminating trachoma are securing sufficient funds and human resources to clear the backlog of surgeries and to focus on the F & E components of SAFE, in order to promote face-washing and hygiene behaviours. Government and NGO partners must also coordinate district level meetings, organize school teachers, parent groups, women groups and local leaders at the community level, and conduct monitoring and evaluation activities.

Gates’ support welcomed

ITI has also recently welcomed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s announcement of a $34 million grant to the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (GNNTD) is certainly great news in bleak times. ITT President Ibrahim Jabr said: “These funds are urgently needed to fight the seven most common NTDs, including blinding trachoma. As a founding member of the GNNTD, ITI knows first hand how these diseases not only cause needless suffering, disability and in many cases death for over one billion people worldwide, but also how they greatly limit human and economic development in affected countries.”

He continued: “Trachoma, an NTD and the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness, is relatively easy to treat and to cure. Much of the progress made today in trachoma elimination is due to the governments, NGOs and donors – particularly Pfizer, who has been donating the antibiotic Zithromax to ITI for trachoma elimination programmes. What have always been lacking are public awareness, political support and adequate funding. The Gates Foundation grant reaffirms that even in hard economic times, continued support and funding to eliminate NTDs – thereby reducing poverty around the globe – is an investment in our shared, global future.”

The International Trachoma Initiative

ITI was founded in 1998 in response to the World Health Organization’s call to eliminate blinding trachoma by the year 2020 (GET2020). The organisation collaborates with governmental and nongovernmental agencies at the local, national and international levels to implement the SAFE strategy for trachoma control.