allAfrica.com: Ghana: Country On the Way to Elmina Ting Trachoma (Page 1 of 1)

GHANA HAS achieved about 75% success in its effort to eliminate blinding trachoma in the Northern and Upper West regions, as a significant step towards meeting the 2010 target set by the country, to eliminate the disease.

This is as a result of vigorous activities of the Ghana Trachoma Control Programme (GTCP), through the use of the World Health Organization (WHO) SAFE strategy, that focuses on surgery to correct in-turned lashes, known as trichiasis that may cause blindness if left untreated, and the use of Antibiotics to treat active trachoma infections. The strategy also includes face washing, to reduce disease transmission, and environmental changes to improve sanitation, and access to clean water.

Based on an impact assessment survey, conducted from December 2007 to March 2008, the prevalence of active trachoma, in children from one to nine years, has been reduced from 16% in some districts, to between 0.1 - 2.8%, while trichiasis, the advanced stage of the disease that causes blindness, has reduced from 13,000 to 5,000 cases.

This is below the WHO accepted 5%, at which level trachoma is no longer considered of public significance. The achievement is also ten years ahead of the target date of 2020, set by the WHO.

The success story was revealed, at a media briefing by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) in Accra, on Friday.

An Ophthalmologist and Member of the Mid Term Review Team, Dr. Boateng Wiafe, noted that when the GTCP began in 2000, there was an estimated 2.8 million people at risk of trachoma infection, over 11,600 cases of trachoma-related blindness, and about 13,000 cases of trichiasis.

He said at the end of 2007, 4,542 people diagnosed with trichiasis, had been provided with sight-saving surgery, and over 3.4 million doses of Pfizer-donated Zithromax, valued at $60 million, have been administered to treat community members in trachoma endemic districts.

According to him, trachoma was a disease of poverty, and in Ghana prevalence was spotty and concentrated in the arid north, far from the economically more vibrant south, which is lacking the infrastructure, and comparative wealth of southern Ghana.

He explained that the disease was found in dry areas, where water and sanitation services are not readily available, and transmitted from person to person, through flies, fingers and formites.

"Repeated infections over-time, if untreated, result in in-turned eyelashes (trichiasis), which then scratch and scar the cornea, leading to blindness", he added.

Further, he stated that children, within the range of 1 - 5 years, are more prone to infection, and women are two to three times more likely than men, to be infected by the disease, because they care for children, and thus are likely to experience repeated infections.

Experts say because the disease causes blindness, in the most productive years of a person's life, it has the potential to ruin the economic well being of entire families and communities, such that developing countries lose almost $3 billion in productivity per year.

Also, Dr. Wiafe stated that the prevalence of the disease, would affect the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), stressing, "The success made in the field is also a contribution towards attainment of the MDGs."

He observed that the current achievement has been due to a strong partnership with all sectors that have a role to play in trachoma control, such as the Ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Women and Children's Affairs, and the Ghana Education Service. Others include the WHO, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), ITI, and non-governmental organizations in the eye sector.

Dr. Wiafe said activities included health education on face washing, focused group discussions, media activities such as jingles, radio programmes and documentaries, as well as introducing trachoma into basic schools curriculum, there has also been provision of about 12,000 household latrines, and 2,134 safe water sources, by partners in the water and sanitation sectors.

Notwithstanding this achievement, he announced that there were currently 5,000 people at risk of going blind, if they don't go through surgery within the shortest possible time, saying, "funds and other logistics are needed to address the issue, within the next twelve months."

Of the 5,000 cases, 2,000 are in the Upper West Region, and the other 3,000 in the Northern Region, and an estimated GH¢250,000, is needed to carry out the surgery.

He pointed out that there was the need to consolidate the gains made, through a strengthened collaboration between all stakeholders, to especially ensure provision of adequate safe water and sanitation in all communities.

On his part, the Director General of the GHS, Dr. Elias K. Sory, noted that in view of the success of the programme, there was the need to take stock, and take a look at the progress made so far, and further chart new ways of ensuring that Ghana succeeds in eliminating blinding trachoma on target.

He said though much has been done, Ghana has not yet achieved its target, hence partnerships must be strengthened, and also strongly adhere to the SAFE strategy, since Ghana has proven that it can work, stressing, "We don't have to sleep, but work harder in order to get there."

He pointed out that it was important to make resources available, to clear the backlog of 5,000 cases within time, and urged the media to help in the awareness creation, to hasten the process.

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