Trachoma is a water-washed conjunctivitis caused by A-C class of Chlamydia. It spreads through unclean practices involving fingers, flies, and fomites.
October 8, 2024, marked a significant turning point for India when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized India’s elimination of trachoma as a public health concern.
India’s success in eliminating trachoma was attributed by WHO to the effective implementation of the National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) in 1976 and the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy, which comprised of:
- Surgery (S): Surgical interventions for treating trichiasis.
- Antibiotics (A)
- Facial Cleanliness (F): to minimize the spread of infection.
- Environmental Improvement (E)
With this accomplishment, India becomes the 19th country worldwide to obtain this citation. It joins Nepal and Myanmar in the WHO South-East Asia Region.
Reference- World Health Organization. “Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem in India.” World Health Organization, October 8, 2024. Accessed October 11, 2024.
Taken from India Wipes Out Trachoma: A Visionary Victory
WHO Declares a Landmark Achievement in India’s Public Health and Eye Care by Dr. Chhavi Garg
https://www.medboundtimes.com/medicine/india-wipes-out-trachoma-a-visionary-victory
