HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO LAUNCH TRACHOMA CAMPAIGN

Examples of Trachoma. Photo credit: Community Health Journal.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will launch its National campaign against Trachoma on Wednesday this week in Gizo, Western province.

The theme of the launching is: “YUMI DRIKIM MERESIN FO STOPEM TRACHOMA”.

A statement from the Ministry of Health today said the launching will mark the start of a Mass Drug Administration, MDA, Azithromycin to people throughout the province to prevent trachoma.

The Ministry says Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness by scaring the eyelids, which ultimately turns the eyelashes inwards so that they scratch the eye.

Ministry delegates led by the Minister Charley Sigoto, the Western Province Premier and donor partners will attend the launching.

The MDA Program will start in Western province this month and will continue to other provinces until the end of October this year.

Meanwhile, Choiseul Province has been excluded from the program because it was reported to have very low cases of trachoma.