6,000 eye surgeries performed in one year

ABDUEL ELINAZA

ABOUT 6,000 trachiasis surgeries were performed over the past 12 months as the government supports delivery of behavioural change initiatives in seven districts in line with the National Sanitation Strategy.

Director of Preventive Services in the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Neema Rusibamayila told the convention of global partners working to eliminate blindness across the country that the country was firmly committed to eliminate trachoma.

“Tanzania is committed to the elimination of blinding trachoma,” Dr Rusibamayila said. During the meeting, stakeholders celebrated tremendous support from DFID and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

Dr Rusibamayila said Tanzania, through adoption of World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended SAFE Strategy, trachoma control interventions are well coordinated under the Neglected Tropical Disease Control Programme. During the meeting, the delegates discussed joint efforts to eliminate blinding trachoma in the country.

Trachoma is the main infectious cause of blindness in the world, with estimated 12.5 million people in the risk of contracting the disease in Tanzania.

At the meeting were members of the International Coalition for Trachoma Control such as Sightsavers and Helen Keller International, the END Fund and the Conrad N Hilton Foundation.

Head of DFID Tanzania, Vel Gnanendra, said at the heart of the country success was strong leadership and commitment from the government to eliminate the disease. “By working together we can beat this disease, transforming the lives of millions of people for years to come,” Gnanendra said.

The country has been making strong efforts to tackle blinding trachoma since 1999. In 2014, they began working with DFID, the Trust, the END Fund, the Conrad N Hilton Foundation, and other partners to combat the infectious eye disease.

WHO recommended SAFE strategy of Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial Cleanliness and Environmental Hygiene was adopted. Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said trachoma could be eliminated by working in collaboration with the government, other donors, NGOs, communities and individuals.

“I’m pleased that today we have the opportunity to review our progress to date and see where we can strengthen efforts to fully consign this painful, debilitating disease to history,” Dr Bonfield said.

A £39.4 million DFID SAFE programme is currently active in Chad, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia and is part of a WHO led global push to eliminate trachoma and other NTD’s in countries where the diseases are most prevalent by 2020. The fund also will be providing surgery to those in need, hygiene and sanitation practices, which are key to stopping the spread of infections.