Fighting trachoma: Empowering communities for sustainable health solutions

Dalin Bakari Ngalanga waits following trachoma surgery at the Mkuranga District Hospital near Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.  

Fighting trachoma: Empowering communities for sustainable health solutions

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of over 20 conditions predominantly affecting resource-limited settings, with profound implications for health, social and economic outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that these diseases impact more than 1 billion individuals globally, while 1.6 billion people require both preventative and curative interventions. NTDs result in approximately 200,000 deaths each year and impose substantial economic burdens on low-income nations, costing billions due to direct health expenses, productivity losses, and diminished socioeconomic and educational achievements. Alarmingly, despite their significant impact, NTDs have historically garnered minimal attention in the global health arena. 

For over two decades, Corus organization IMA World Health has been dedicated to addressing NTDs across Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Utilizing evidence-based strategies, IMA World Health collaborates with local governments and partners to implement effective NTD projects. In alignment with the WHO's NTD Road Map, IMA World Health is making tangible progress toward achieving the WHO's 2030 control and elimination targets. 

Among these diseases, trachoma stands out as a leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide, affecting nearly 1.9 million individuals and leading to irreversible visual impairment. The ramifications extend beyond the individual, impacting entire communities by hindering economic participation, depriving children of educational opportunities and perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

A man takes notes on a sheet of paper and sits next to a woman holding an infant

Sophia Mohamed (right) completes paperwork with an IMA World Health Program Manager to receive surgery for trachoma that had caused her pain for years.

Trachoma is a progressive disease that can lead to scarring of the inner eyelid, eventually resulting in painful in-turned eyelashes that damage the cornea. Fortunately, a simple 15-minute surgical procedure is the most effective intervention to reverse this condition. 

For over a decade, Corus organization IMA World Health has been committed to fighting trachoma in Tanzania. We partnered with the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and various stakeholders to provide essential eye care services across six regions in Tanzania, home to nearly four million people. IMA's field teams have ventured into some of the most remote areas, including isolated lake islands, to ensure all communities receive the necessary care. 

Our Impact in Tanzania:

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After years of collaborative efforts to strengthen local capacity and train health care workers, we are thrilled to witness our accompaniment approach in action. Local communities and healthcare providers have now taken the reins of critical initiatives to combat trachoma, furthering sustainable health improvements and a more resilient health care system.

A nurse in scrubs stands in front of a surgical screen

Nurse Hawa received training, medicine and supplies to help patients facing trachoma.  

We are committed to fighting neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) globally and our aim is to support communities until we’ve worked ourselves out of a job. 

 

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