Trachoma – Nigeria

Help protect children and adults from the agony of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) like Trachoma. 

This programme aims to improve the quality of life of people living in Nigeria by reducing the prevalence of blinding Trachoma. For the past twenty years, the poorest 25% of the world’s population were at risk from this highly infectious but neglected tropical disease.

THE NEED

Worldwide 36 million people are blind, yet 75% of blindness is preventable or treatable. The world’s leading cause of preventable blindness is Trachoma, a bacterial infection that causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. This roughening can lead to pain in the eyes, breakdown of the outer surface or cornea of the eyes, and eventual blindness.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are critical in the prevention of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

In Nigeria, there are 8.7 million people at risk of Trachoma where, if left untreated, the disease causes eyelids to turn inwards resulting in pain in the eyes and eventual blindness.

There is an inequitable distribution of water in most communities, as a result, people in such areas resort to fetching water from unsafe sources such as rivers, streams, ponds, etc. The community members on most occasion do not know how to purify the water for end use. Lack of awareness coupled with poor hygiene, sanitation and limited access to clean water increases the risk of infection. Women are more susceptible to the infectious Trachoma than men because of their higher exposure to young children who are typically the bearers of the disease.

WHAT YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT CAN HELP FUND

Through your generosity, this programme uses the S.A.F.E. strategy to help eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases: Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental sanitation through the following means:

• Training community workers on early detection of Trachoma and other Neglected Tropical Diseases.
• Building community awareness on the importance of safe water and good hygiene behaviours in preventing Trachoma.
• Increasing the availability of clean water through WASH and improving hygiene in toilets and latrines.
• Building/repairing inclusive community water points (boreholes), and training and equipping community members to manage and maintain the water points.