Pfizer Donates Zithromax in Fight to Eliminate Trachoma

 

Pfizer is a founding partner of the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), an international nongovernmental organization dedicated solely to the elimination of blinding trachoma. The goal is to eliminate trachoma worldwide by 2020.   

 

Trachoma is the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. It largely effects rural populations with limited access to clean water and health care. Children are highly susceptible to the infections, yet blindness doesn’t strike until adulthood. Because it is easily transmitted by contact it can quickly spread through entire families and communities. This creates an economic impact on the community. Adults experience blindness and are unable to provide for their families. Women, who are traditionally the caretakers of the home in many of these communities, are three times more likely to experience the disease. Blindness leaves them unable to take care of the household. Oldest daughters are pulled out of school to help with these tasks. This takes away from them the opportunity of a formal education. This perpetuates a cycle of poverty that traps these families and communities.

 

Pfizer fellow, Phoung Le, relates the following story which illustrates the impact of this blindness in these communities:

 

 

 

Vietnam is a socialist republic of just over 86 million citizens. It ranks 105 out of 177 countries on the Human Development Rank. Although the economy has recently been growing, It is a relatively poor country.

ITI began work in Vietnam in 2000 using the WHO approved SAFE strategy to combat Trachoma. SAFE entails supporting sight-saving trachomatous trichiasis (TT) surgeries, administering the Pfizer donated antibiotic Zithromax, promoting hygiene and facial cleaning, and supporting the improvement of environmental conditions through access to clean water and sanitation.

 

Since the program began, 83,830 Vietnamese have undergone TT surgery that has saved their sight. In this time period Pfizer has donated 2.1 million doses of Zithromax to ITI’s efforts in Vietnam. In 2007, Zithromax administration campaigns were carried out in 80 endemic communes with about 56,000 doses administered. 

With school health programs and hygiene education widely adopted in primary schools, children in the program areas have regularly received messages on facial washing and water sanitation. In 1997 the effects of this were seen when screening showed 98% of the children to have clean faces. The message is also broadcast to the districts and communes via loudspeaker.

 

The program has had great success and is on pace for its goal of eliminating trachoma in Vietnam by 2010. By the end of 2007, active trachoma was eliminated as a public health problem as the incidence rate fell below 5%. The program’s activities are now focused on the needed surgeries and reducing reoccurrence rates.

ITI completed its work in Morocco in 2006. They are currently working towards elimination of trachoma in 15 countries. It completed its work in Morocco in 2006. They are currently working in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam. They are getting ready to begin a program in Guinea-Bissau.

 

Partners: International Trachoma Initiative, Vietnam Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training, National Institute of Ophthalmology, provincial committees and other international agencies