India has been felicitated to have successfully eliminated trachoma, a first-rate lead to of blindness, as public health concern. India joins Nepal and Myanmar in the WHO South-East Asia Region and 19 other countries globally that have previously achieved this feat.“India’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is an affidavit to the u . s .’s commitment to alleviating the suffering that millions have faced from this debilitating disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO has worked closely with India to attain this achievement, and we congratulate the govt., health workers and partners who have collaborated to make it chances are you’ll perhaps keep in mind.”
Excellent news: #India has eliminated #trachoma, a debilitating disease which previously afflicted millions in .
Congratulations to health workers, communities, the govt. and partners who collaborated to make it chances are you’ll perhaps keep in mind. #RC77 @narendramodi https://t.co/DjgYI9boA2 p.c.twitter.com/8UTr2flz24
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October eight, 2024
What’s trachoma?
Trachoma, a number one lead to of infectious blindness, is a chlamydial infection that happens due to the lack of hygiene and unclean water supply and would per chance spread by contact with the eye, nose or throat secretions of somebody tormented by the disease or now not immediately by way of flies.
Risk factors and causes of trachoma:
Poor hygiene
Overcrowded households
Inadequate access to water
Poor sanitation
Trachoma symptoms
Redness in eyes
Swollen eyelids
Blurred vision
Frequent water discharge
WHO recommends a SAFE approach to combat trachoma.
Surgery to treat the blinding stage (trachomatous trichiasis)-
Antibiotics to clear the infection, specifically mass drug administration of the antibiotic azithromycin, which is donated by the manufacturer, Pfizer, to elimination programmes, all through the International Trachoma Initiative
Facial cleanliness
Environmental improvement, specifically improving access to water and sanitation.
When detected at early stage, it could actually possibly perhaps per chance per chance be treated with antibiotics. At improved stage, one may require a surgical operation or a corneal surgical operation in addition.
