International Coalition for Trachoma Control

Special populations, including refugees, internally displaced persons, indigenous and nomadic communities, vary significantly in terms of their cultural practices, spoken languages, and socioeconomic and political status. However, many special populations share common challenges in accessing eye health services, including interventions for trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. Learn how Colombia is implementing human rights based approaches to achieve universal health coverage, including improving access to trachoma interventions for indigenous populations living in the Amazon 👇. #HumanRightsDay https://lnkd.in/g7rZjw67

Women with disabilities often face increased barriers to accessing trachoma interventions. Understanding the intersections of disability with gender, age, ethnicity, and social and political status, and other factors that prevent people from accessing trachoma interventions is essential to achieve the global elimination of trachoma as a public health problem by 2030. Learn why we must also apply a gender lens to ensure health equity for people with disabilities here: https://lnkd.in/dyMTSJPF 

Dr Sarity Dodson, Director of Research and Evidence at The Fred Hollows Foundation, has been elected to the Executive Group of the International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC). She will serve as Vice Chair from 2025 to 2027, followed by terms as Chair (2027–2029) and Immediate Past Chair (2029–2031). Sarity brings extensive leadership experience to the ICTC Executive Group, particularly in cross-cutting and health systems research. In her role at The Fred Hollows Foundation, she has led several research projects aimed at strengthening health systems, integrating trachoma interventions into routine eye health services, and advancing strategies for facial cleanliness and environmental improvement. Learn more 👇 https://lnkd.in/eYktWUez

Viet Nam has been validated by the World Health Organization as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem! Viet Nam has been actively tackling trachoma since the 1950s, when surveys indicated that the prevalence of active (inflammatory) trachoma ranged from 50–90%, and the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT), the blinding stage of trachoma, was up to 6.4% in some communities. Learn how Viet Nam implemented comprehensive, cross-sectoral programmes, engaging diverse stakeholders from the community, the Women's Union, the Ministry of Education, and multiple ICTC members, to ensure trachoma was eliminated as a public health problem 👇 https://lnkd.in/dJdaDPF4.

Today, #WorldSightDay, we celebrate the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in #India and #Pakistan in addition to global progress to strengthen eye health systems to achieve #VisionForAll. In total, 20 countries have been validated by the World Health Organization as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem and the number of people at risk of trachoma has reduced by 93% since 2002, highlighting what can be achieved through sustained political will and strategic investments in national eye health systems. Congratulations India and Pakistan! Learn more 👇 . https://lnkd.in/eqzRmnN2

Pakistan has been validated by the World Health Organization as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem! It is the 6th country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and the 19th country globally to achieve this milestone. Congratulations Pakistan! #beatNTDs https://lnkd.in/ggtr5AyZ  WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO)

Indigenous and nomadic communities vary significantly in terms of their cultural practices, spoken languages, and socioeconomic and political status. However, many indigenous communities share common challenges in accessing eye health services, including interventions for trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. Learn how Colombia is improving health equity for indigenous populations by implementing people-centred and rights-based approaches to health care. #IndigenousPeoplesDay https://lnkd.in/dCUnGn8v

Complex emergencies resulting from conflict and political instability are a major challenge for national trachoma programs, yet there are no formal guidelines for national programs to use to plan activities in these humanitarian situations. In 2021, Conflict and Health published a new methodological approach for implementing safe and effective mapping and intervention strategies in NTD endemic countries with ongoing complex emergencies. #WorldRefugeeDay Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dAePPGcA

There are three neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with sight-threatening complications: trachoma, an ocular disease; onchocerciasis, better known as ‘river blindness’, affecting the skin and eyes; and leprosy, which primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, and the eyes. As cases of these NTDs become increasingly rare, the use of digital tools and educational resources will soon become crucial for building health workers’ capacity to recognize eye conditions early enough to prevent devastating vision loss. Read our latest opinion piece by Dr Shyamala Anand, which presents a case for integrating ocular NTDs. https://lnkd.in/e3GPFt_Q

The World Health Organization has published the 3rd edition of “Trichiasis surgery for trachoma”. First published in 1993, the resource provides specific information for TT trainers who are training others to undertake TT surgery. Find out what is included in the 3rd edition👇. https://lnkd.in/esqCFtxE