NHIS not panacea to quality healthcare delivery - Dr Issah Nov 14, 2008
There are also 122 other patients on treatment and 433 people have joined each other to form 12 associations of people living with HIV/AIDS," Dr Issah told the students. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the region is 3.3 per cent while that of Wa Municipality is 5.8 per cent, a sentinel survey carried out in 2007 between September and October indicated. Dr Issah indicated that tuberculosis posed a big challenge in diagnosis and treatment due to lack of laboratories and equipment in some of the... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Thirsty world: Desperate quest for water Oct 21, 2008
These include blindness caused by trachoma and diarrheal diseases passed from person to person. Water-based diseases come from hosts that live in water or require water during part of their life cycle. (CNN)
7.4 million Ghanaians may go blind if... Oct 10, 2008
Currently, there are about 220,000 Ghanaians blinded through various other causes such as trachoma, onchocerciasis (river blindness) childhood blindness, refractive errors and low vision ... Dr Debrah who is also the National Coordinator of the Prevention Blindness programme, said cataract refractive errors which were treatable, formed 50 per cent of all cases of blindness in the country with trachoma accounting for 15 per cent. While these causes were preventable he said glaucoma, diabetic... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Ghana, a leader in glaucoma cases - GHS Oct 10, 2008
Glaucoma contributed 15 to 20 per cent; oncho and trachoma also contributing 5 per cent each; childhood blindness 5-10 per cent refractive errors and low vision five per cent and others 10-15 per cent.. Dr. Debrah attributed the causes of blindness in the country to dirty environment, consumption of dirty water and non-treatment of eye diseases in their early stages, adding that, all eye diseases were treatable with the exception of absolute glaucoma. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
SUDAN BLINDNESS Sep 25, 2008
LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - At least one person in nearly every household in a part of southern Sudan had signs of trachoma, one of the highest rates ever recorded for the blinding eye disease, researchers said on Wednesday ... "Communities in Ayod are in urgent need of interventions to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem," Jonathan King of the U.S. Carter Center in Atlanta and his colleagues wrote in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ... "Active trachoma in Ayod is among... (AlertNet)
Nigeria Health Minister urges action on Visions 2020, 20-2020Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's Health Minister Hassan MuhammadLawal has challenged health stakeholders to fast-track measurestowardsmaking Nigeria a healthy nation and a leading economy by 2020. 01/08/2008 Full Text... Aug 1, 2008
Trachoma and onchocerciasis (river blindness), two of the "Neglected Tropical Diseases" together, account for 4% of blindness being more important in some areas of the country than in other parts of the country. In addition to the blind, there are another three million people in Nigeria whose vision is inadequate for normal functioning. (Panapress.com)
Chatham Rotary Club joins efforts to provide clean water in Ghana Jul 30, 2008
Communities with high incidence of a painful Guinea Worm parasite and victims of blindness caused by Trachoma will be priorities. Rotary clubs in Tamale, Ghana, will partner with other organizations in Ghana to focus the work in areas of most need. (Chatham Star Tribune, VA)
One million Nigerians blind, says govt survey Jul 28, 2008
The report on the survey reads: "Two-thirds of the blindness in Nigeria is avoidable. Trachoma and onchocerciais, two of the 'neglected tropical diseases' together accounted for four per cent of blindness being more important in some areas of the country than in others. "In addition to the blind, there are another three million people whose vision is inadequate for normal functioning. More than half (57 per cent) of them could have their vision improved by a simple pair of glasses (refractive... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
'Lack of hygiene, unsafe water kills 7.8L every yr' Jun 29, 2008
Trachoma affects 5 million people primarily a result of inadequate hygiene. About 200 million people suffer from schistosomiasis which is caused by contact with contaminated water bodies. (India Times, India -- Community News)
The world's most responsible hotels Jun 18, 2008
These have included a beads for food program that employed nearly 400 women, a clean water program, an eye project to eradicate trachoma, and leg and foot clinics to treat jigger infestations in children. Grootbos Private Nature ReserveThe luxury Grootbos Private Game Reserve, in South Africa, blends environmental and social activism in a foundation dedicated to preserving native landscapes and training unemployed or unskilled local people in how to make a living from doing the same. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Tourists To Caribbean Urged To Pay One Dollar Each To Help Fight Tropical Diseases Of Poverty May 30, 2008
26, 2007) The neglected tropical diseases are a group of 13 infectious diseases, including elephantiasis, hookworm, African sleeping sickness and trachoma, which affect more than one billion people worldwide. . (Science Daily)
Art Of Island Living May 4, 2008
A great showcase for the best island art is the Bowen Island Arts Council's Gallery@Artisan Square, which might feature anything from photojournalist Robert Semeniuk's graphic black and whites on trachoma - an eye disease - in Ethiopia, to masterpieces like a multi-tiered hat, chess board and a Haida raven, all made out of chocolate, by a dozen island artists. The last show was the brainchild of the island's chocolatier, Joanne Mogridge, and her partner, Carlos Vela-Martinez, who run Cocoa West... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Travel)
Annual Trachoma Treatments May Be Unnecessary May 2, 2008
WEDNESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- In communities with moderate levels of the eye disease trachoma, one or two rounds of high coverage mass treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin may be sufficient to eliminate the infection, researchers say. A team at the London School of Hygiene cal Medicine's Trachoma Group said its findings challenge the World Health Organization's recommendation for annual antibiotic treatment and called for a re-evaluation of how communities affected with trachoma... (MEDLINEplus)
A new respect mandated for the benefit of everyone Apr 21, 2008
They will be free of the eye disease trachoma, and will be the beneficiaries of a $1 billion, 20-year endowment fund drawn from budget surpluses, like the Higher Education Endowment Fund created in 2007. "By strengthening children, you deal with families and communities, too," said the Australian Children's Trust's Nicola Forrest, wife of the mining magnate Andrew Forrest. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Britain's best hospitals: A patients' guide Mar 20, 2008
Moorfields was founded to treat an epidemic of trachoma, a form of tropical conjunctivitis which still causes blindness in Africa, and was brought back to England by British troops returning from the Napoleonic wars in Egypt. Despite its recent problems, Moorfields remains Britain's most highly-regarded eye treatment centre. (Independent)
Sanitation investment in poor countries would yield $9-to-1 benefits in productivity, health: UN Mar 20, 2008
Such exposure is the leading cause for diarrhoeal disease (including dysentery and cholera), parasitic infections, worm infestations and trachoma. Sanitation and Children. (EurekAlert!)
NEPAL: Activists call for decisive action to improve sanitation Mar 10, 2008
Over 80 percent of diseases (including diarrhoea, cholera, intestinal worms, trachoma, typhoid) among adults and children are caused by lack of basic sanitation, according to a new government report entitled Nepal Country Plan for International Year of Sanitation 2008. The report said poor hygiene and sanitation were causing losses of over US$150 million per year in terms of health costs, loss of economic productivity and the adverse effect on tourism. (AlertNet)
USAID Fights Neglected Tropical Diseases Feb 23, 2008
The initiative will build on U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) investments in NTDs control and will target seven major diseases: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis); schistosomiasis (snail fever); trachoma (eye infection); onchocerciasis (river blindness); and three soil-transmitted helminthes (hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm). Approximately one billion people, mostly in the developing world, suffer from one or more NTDs. (PR Newswire)
Biannual Antibiotics May Cut Major Cause of Blindness in Africa Feb 21, 2008
An ocular strain of the sexual transmitted disease chlamydia causes the contagious eye disease trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide ... The World Health Organization has launched a program to control trachoma, relying in large part on annual repeated mass azithromycin administrations. (MEDLINEplus)
Fact Sheet: Fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases Around The World Feb 20, 2008
This Initiative will make a total of $350 million available over five years to provide integrated treatment of more than 300 million people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and target seven major NTDs: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis); schistosomiasis (snail fever); trachoma (eye infection); onchocerciasis (river blindness); and three soil-transmitted helminthes (STHs hookworm, roundworm, whipworm). This investment increases the United States' commitment to NTDs from $15 million in 2008 to... (White House News Releases)
What we do?Mr Alex Ionides talks about his work as an eye surgeon Feb 16, 2008
Vision 2020, an initiative by the World Health Organisation, is aiming to reduce blindness around the world (there are currently approximately 50 million people blind in the world at the moment and this is increasing) as a result of cataract and the infectious eye disease trachoma. CV - Mr Alex Ionides. (BBC News -- UK)
Mass treatment proposed to combat sexual diseases in Aborigines Feb 5, 2008
He said that community-wide treatment of other infectious diseases, like trachoma, which can blind its victims, is common. Chlamydia, which can cause infertility and pelvic inflammation if untreated, is caused by the same bacterium as trachoma. (International Herald Tribune)
E-mails from Kenya Jan 20, 2008
Dan, 46, is an ophthalmologist, treating primarily cataracts but also diseases not seen in the U.S., such as trachoma, a fly-borne disease that causes the eyelids to turn inward and scar the cornea from the eyelashes rubbing. Sally, 43, earned a technical journalism degree. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Chlamydia trachomatis genome sheds light on an emerging infection Jan 8, 2008
As well as sexually transmitted disease (most often infections of the cervix or urogenital tract), it causes eye infection (trachoma), and also invasive disease called lymphogranuloma vernerum (LGV) ... "Chlamydia trachomatis has almost 900 genes and we found fewer than ten that differed significantly between the trachoma and the LGV strains," says Dr Nick Thomson from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, who led the sequencing effort ... "Chlamydia are very difficult organisms to study in the... (News-Medical.net)
Tiny changes created STI strain Jan 7, 2008
But they also found that the LGV strain was very similar to another form of chlamydia that causes an eye infection, so-called chlamydia trachomatis. "Chlamydia trachomatis has almost 900 genes and we found fewer than 10 that differed significantly between the trachoma and the LGV strains," said Dr Nick Thomson of the Wellcome Trust. (BBC News -- Health)
Multiple Species Of Bacteria May Cause Trachoma: Implications For Treatment Jan 4, 2008
4, 2008) Researchers have found that more than one species of bacteria may be causing the infectious eye disease trachoma ... The possibility that multiple strains of the Chlamydiceae family of bacteria are involved in trachoma would involve a re-evaluation of vaccines and treatment programmes ... It is accepted that Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) causes trachoma. (Science Daily)
Poor Americans Suffer Hidden Burden Of Parasitic And Other Neglected Diseases Jan 2, 2008
1, 2008) Large numbers of the poorest Americans living in the United States are suffering from some of the same parasitic infections that affect the poor in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, says the Editor-in-Chief of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. In an article entitled "Poverty and Neglected Diseases in the 'Other' America," Professor Peter Hotez (George Washington University and the Sabin Vaccine Institute) says that there is evidence that the parasitic diseases toxocariasis, cysticercosis... (Science Daily)
Neglected tropical diseases burden those overseas, but travelers also at risk Dec 26, 2007
Though little known to most Americans, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and other so-called neglected tropical diseases are responsible for severe health burdens, especially among the worlds poorest people. Together, it is estimated that these illnesses, most of which are caused by worms or other parasites, rank sixth among all conditions worldwide in robbing people of quality of life and life itself through disability or premature death,... (EurekAlert!)
Is it the water? Dec 18, 2007
6 million people who have been struck blind by trachoma. and 500 million people who are currently at risk of contracting it, the World Bank says. (CNN -- International)
New Rapid Chlamydia Test Could Enable 'Test And Treat' Strategy Dec 5, 2007
Chlamydia trachoma is the world's most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection. According to the Health Protection Agency, the number of diagnoses in the UK has risen steadily since the mid-1990s, reaching 110,000 in 2005. (Science Daily)
Mass Drug Treatment For Elephantiasis Is Affordable Compared With Other Public Health Programs Nov 5, 2007
26, 2007) The neglected tropical diseases are a group of 13 infectious diseases, including elephantiasis, hookworm, African sleeping sickness and trachoma, which affect more than one billion people worldwide. (Mar. (Science Daily)
The Big 3 v Neglected Diseases Oct 26, 2007
Tanzanian children being checked for trachoma. The Pulse then looks at a new simple test on trial in Tanzania to detect trachoma, one of the world's leading causes of blindness. (Aljazeera.Net)
Wiley-Blackwell journals contribute to Council of Science Editor's global theme issue Oct 23, 2007
said Sue Corbett, Managing Director, Medicine, Wiley-Blackwell, Our participating journals will be addressing a variety of key issues, such as a review of Trachoma treatment methods, a look at how poverty affects women, in terms of health, pregnancy and equal opportunities, and current access to health information in Zambia. . (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Seattle research institute gets $250K grant Oct 21, 2007
The grant money will be used by IDRI to buy large equipment used to study diseases including leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, trachoma, Buruli ulcer, leprosy and Chagas' disease. Related Industry News. (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
Infectious Disease Research Institute Receives Grant for Acquisition of Core Research Equipment from M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Oct 19, 2007
IDRI projects enabled under the Murdock grant are focused on chronic infections resulting in leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, trachoma, Buruli ulcer, leprosy, and Chagas disease. Together, these diseases present major public health burdens and cause premature death or disability. (PR Newswire)
Treading with new feet on old footprints Oct 13, 2007
Alcohol-fuelled violence had swept like a bushfire through communities already blighted with Third World rates of infant death, trachoma and heart disease. Fraser's response as prime minister was immediate. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
GHS briefs media on World Sight Day Oct 9, 2007
Mr. Debrah mentioned some of the causes of avoidable blindness as trachoma, a situation, which, he said, could be controlled by frequent washing of the face with clean water. Others are Vitamin A deficiency in children, malnutrition, measles, trauma, tumour and the application of harmful traditional medicines. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Aborigines to get $100m health corps boost Sep 18, 2007
Specialists will be recruited to conduct so-called "health blitzes" against conditions that are prevalent in Aboriginal communities, including trachoma, cataracts and deafness. The Government has committed $500 million to the intervention. (Sydney Morning Herald)
A Global Coalition of Good Sep 8, 2007
Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott Laboratories and others have launched major drug programs, backed by considerable staff efforts, to battle devastating diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, trachoma, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and more. These and other companies are discovering the powerful added benefits of reaching out to the poor beyond the obvious direct ones: better morale among workers and customers; a boost in campus recruiting; a chance to identify and... (Time.com)
Pilger: Boycott of Israel Sep 3, 2007
No one knew about his son, whose trachoma was surely blindness now. Outside, another generation kicked a punctured football in the dust. (Zmag.org)
Winder mayor opts out and it's hard for supporters to let go Aug 31, 2007
Your Connection to the. " His fourth term as mayor will end this year, and he said he has no plans to qualify to run for a fifth term before today's 4:30 p.m. deadline. But for the people who have worked with and voted for Ouzts over the years, that's a hard line to swallow. "He'd win hands down if he ran again," City Administrator Bob Beck said Thursday. "We really won't be sure he won't until tomorrow. (Athens Banner-Herald)
A rationale for continuing mass antibiotic distributions for trachoma Aug 8, 2007
The World Health Organization recommends periodic mass antibiotic distributions to reduce the ocular strains of chlamydia that cause trachoma, the world's leading cause of infectious blindness. Their stated goal is to control infection, not to completely eliminate it. (BioMed Central)
Water experts attend workshop on water uses Jul 5, 2007
The participants are from the World Vision-Ghana, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Water Aid, the International Trachoma Initiative and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) as well as personnel of WAWI.. Others are from the Ghana Education Service (GES), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Health and Sanitation Department and the Tamale School of Hygiene. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Carter Center marks 25th anniversary Jun 30, 2007
Emily Staub, the Carter Center's associate director of public information and health programs, said the latrines, which help control flies by encouraging a more sanitary environment, has resulted in a significant drop in trachoma, a disease that causes blindness. The latrines cost less than $10 to build. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Metro)
New Drug Resistance Found In River Blindness: Parasite Could Re-emerge As Major Scourge Jun 29, 2007
River blindness, which is the second-leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide after trachoma, is caused by the filarial nematode parasite, a worm transmitted by black fly bite. It leads to visual impairment, blindness, and, in some cases, pathological changes in the skin. (Science Daily)
Dr Hagan wins 2007 Trachoma Gold Award May 31, 2007
Accra, May 30, GNA - Dr Maria Hagan, a Specialist Ophthalmologist who has been actively involved and has been in the forefront of elimination of trachoma in Ghana, has been awarded the 2007 Trachoma Gold Award. She was presented with her award in Paris, France, on May 6 and she presented a paper titled "Ghana Trachoma Control Programme: TT Surgery Challenge" to mark the day, according to a statement issued in Accra on Wednesday ... The statement said she was nominated by the International... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Step up efforts to solve acute water problem - Minister May 30, 2007
The Water Aid and International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) hosted the workshop with support from the Ghana National Steering Committees of WAWI and World Vision ... He said other objectives included reducing the prevalence of water-borne diseases such as trachoma, guinea worm and diarrhoea ... Dr. Agartha Aboe, country Representative of the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) stressed that her outfit's partnership with the WAWI had made tremendous impact in the lives of many through its... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
CHPS project launched at Taha May 23, 2007
He said it was unfortunate that the Northern and Upper West regions were the worse affected by the trachoma disease and that the Tamale Metropolis was the most endemic area in the country. He commended the European Union (EU), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and other stakeholders for their partnership in the development of the region. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Ghana needs 40 thousand operations annually to curb trachoma May 17, 2007
He said trachoma and cataract had affected thousands of Ghanaians with only few specialists to deal with the situation in the country particularly in the Northern part of the country, where eye experts were few ... Dr. Debrah said eye specialists in the country had only been able to deal with one thousand operations of cataract and trachoma annually in the country. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
W/R GHS to undertake mass drug administration Apr 26, 2007
Dr. Vanotoo said the exercise forms part of the Mass Drug Administration for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which includes Schistosomiasis, Trachoma, Soil Transmitted Helminths (intestinal worms), Yaws, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer. She said people with large scrotums would be registered during the exercise for treatment of hernia and hydrocele. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
WHO Developing Plan to Tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases Apr 20, 2007
" A lot of progress has been made in combating some of the tropical diseases. For example, the World Helath Organization (WHO) says trachoma has decreased from 360 million cases in 1985 to 80 million people today. Cases of leprosy have decreased from 5.2 million to less than 220,000 and Guinea Worm, which now infects 25,000 people is at the point of eradication. But, Dr. Savioli notes when a disease is at the point of elimination or eradication, people lose interest in it, resulting in setbacks.... (Voice of America)
Psoriasis-afflicted community sees ray of hope Mar 7, 2007
In addition, her tear ducts continually produce moisture, attracting flies and making her vulnerable to the highly infectious trachoma -- the leading cause of preventable blindness around the world, according to Helen Keller International (www. hki. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Carter proposes health, education alliance against diseasesAddis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - For African nations to be able toeradicate most of the diseases endemic within the continent,alliances must be created between the health and educationministries, former US President Jimmy Carter suggested here Monday. 12/02/2007 Full Text... Feb 12, 2007
"Trachoma is concentrated in Amhara region of Ethiopia. Filthy hands spread this disease, particularly when children don't wash away flies that surround their eyes. Eventually the eyes get infected and cause blindness," he said ... "We have only addressed diseases not commonly known, but the primary victims of these diseases are children. Trachoma and Onchocerciasis cause unnecessary suffering to children," Carter noted, urging the African ministers at the conference to explore ways by which... (Panapress.com)
Ethiopia: Jimmy Carter Promotes African Health Needs Feb 10, 2007
While in Sudan, President Carter and Jimmy Ross, Lions Club International president, meet with the newest local Lions Club to encourage the group to take up the fight against river blindness and trachoma. Relevant Links. (allAfrica.com)
Carter reaffirms support for guinea worm eradication in Ghana Feb 9, 2007
Mr Carter called on stakeholders and other development partners to help combat the guinea worm menace and trachoma in the next two years to mitigate the plight of affected people ... He expressed satisfaction with the progress made at Tingoli, where according to him there had not been any reported case of guinea worm or trachoma disease for the past one year due to effective preventive measures. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Stakeholders meet on neglected tropical diseases Feb 7, 2007
The programme would cover all the 26 endemic districts in the Northern and Upper West Regions where pockets of trachoma could be identified, as well as 61 districts in eight regions where Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) could be found, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said on Tuesday. Five of the ancient neglected tropical diseases 96 Trachoma; Lymphatic Filariasisl; Onchocerciasis; Schistosomiasis and intestinal worms - are associated with... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
* Taiwan to donate funds for health projects Feb 5, 2007
The two projects -- a trachoma prevention plan and a cooking oil plan -- were jointly organized by the New York-based Helen Keller International (HKI), the UN Children's Fund and the WHO, the spokesman said ... The funds will include US$103,940 for the trachoma project, the spokesman said, adding that this donation represents the final installment in a three-year project that began in late 2004 ... Taiwan has donated more than US$375,000 to the project aimed at combating trachoma in Burkina... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
- John Pilger Jan 19, 2007
An entirely preventable disease, trachoma - beaten in many poor countries - still blinds many because of appalling living conditions. The impoverishment of black communities, which I have seen change little over the years, was described in 2006 by Save the Children as "some of the worst we have seen in our work all around the world". (Guardian Unlimited)
