Tag: Trachoma

Eye Health A Neglected Public Health Issue In Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Sightsavers have warned that the continued neglect of Eye Care as a public health issue on the African continent was derailing efforts to respond eye-related diseases, resulting in more people developing blindness and irreversible eye complications. This comes amidst indications that globally, a billion people have a visual impairment that could have been prevented or could still be treated. Speaking in an interview with HeathTimes in Zambia recently, Francis Kalusa,  Sightasavers Program Manager Zambia said Eye Care was lagging behind other diseases in terms of attention. So…

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CHWs boost trachoma prevention programme in Chiwundura

Healthtimes

Villagers in Chiwundura district in Midlands province have finally embraced a trachoma prevention programme after a massive awareness campaign by community health workers (CHWs) and local traditional leaders. By Caiphas Chimhete & Mandy Mathias The villagers had initially being suspicious of the government-driven programme following rumours and misinformation that trachoma prevention tablets caused serious side-effects. Trachoma is a preventable disease that affect the eyes, cause loss of vision and blindness and is most common in poor rural communities. Rumours were awash in the midlands district that the tablets caused blindness…

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Health Ministry Scales Up Trachoma Elimination Efforts

NewsRoom

[dropcap]THE [/dropcap]Ministry of Health and Child Care will this year roll out eye surgery outreach programs in several districts across the nation to combat a tropical disease called trachoma. By HealthTimes Correspondent The outreach programs in these districts are meant to reduce an estimated backlog of 6 500 people believed to have this disease.   Trachoma is targeted for elimination by 2020. A leading cause of preventable blindness globally, the disease is caused by a bacterial agent known as chlamydia trachomatis and spreads from person to person through flies, poor hygiene,…

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Neglected Tropical Diseases Resurface in Modern Day Zimbabwe…55 Districts Under Siege

NewsRoom

MAJORITY of Zimbabweans who grew up in communal areas or even those who were born in farming communities when Zimbabwe’s commercial farming was still at its peak should be familiar with diseases such as Bilharzia, worms and Trachoma. By Michael Gwarisa Owing to efforts from government and the donor community, steps to mitigate the spread of such diseases have been put in place trough interventions such as mass drug administrations, vaccinations, dispensing of oral tablets to get rid of gut worms, fumigating stagnant water ponds amongst a host of other…

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Ministry Embarks on Massive Drug Administration For Trachoma

NewsRoom

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care is embarking on a mass drug administration exercise for blinding trachoma targeting both children and adults. SOURCE: CHRONICLE The drug administration began in three districts on Monday and is set to end on February 23. Blinding trachoma is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium which causes the roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. The roughening can lead to blindness. Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the programme is targeting both children and adults. “Everyone living in endemic…

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