A shamed nation turns a blind eye Nov 16, 2009
Trachoma is a disease that starts as conjunctivitis but gradually, with repeated infection, turns the eyelashes inwards so that they scrape the cornea, scarring it, rendering it opaque, causing blindness. As it is easily treated with antibiotics, trachoma is regarded as a disease of poverty and is now unknown in developed countries except Australia ... Even in the developing world in Gambia, Malawi and Nepal, where it was once endemic trachoma and trichiasis (the eye-scraping stage)... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Tap wealth of local products emerging to fight 'neglected' diseases of poor: study Nov 3, 2009
NTDs include trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, elephantiasis, leprosy, dengue fever, hookworm infection and schistosomiasis. World spending to battle such illnesses, however, amounts to a relative drop in the bucket -- just $500 million in 2007 or about 5% of the total invested in new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics worldwide. (EurekAlert!)
Two-thirds of world's blind are women: Study Oct 9, 2009
"The natural incidence of some blinding diseases, like cataract and trachoma, is higher among women than men, which results in a situation where women account for nearly two-thirds of blind people worldwide.". Some of the key findings of the report are Equal access to eye care could substantially reduce blindness in poor countries Simple and effective strategies can address the inequity within 2020 80 percent of blindness is avoidable and can be prevented, cured or treated 45... (India Times, India)
Celebrate World Sight Day and help to prevent blindness Oct 8, 2009
TORONTO, Oct. 8 /CNW/ - World Sight Day, celebrated on October 8th, is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment as a major public health issue (Canada Newswire)
NHIA reviews medicines list Oct 7, 2009
He emphasised that medications for free public health services that were exempted from payment of fees such as childhood immunisations, family planning, in- patient and out-patient treatment of mental illness, treatment of Onchocerciasis, Buruli Ulcer and Trachoma; and confirmatory HIV test on AIDS were not on the list. Dispensing of all prescriptions under the scheme must be carried out by a pharmacist or under the direct supervision of a pharmacist to intervene when necessary, the NHIA... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Carney plays teacher Annie Sullivan Oct. 20 at Holbrook library Oct 1, 2009
At the age of three, Sullivan, who was born in 1866, began having trouble with her eyesight as a result of the eye disease trachoma, a bacterial infection that often causes blindness by scarring, and underwent numerous surgeries to improve her vision. In 1880, she entered the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind in Boston. (Holbrook Sun, MA)
Sight Savers and Hohoe Hospital builds eye centre Sep 26, 2009
The centre can deal with glaucoma, cataract and trachoma and undertake major and minor surgical operations. Others are rehabilitation of the blind and provision of optical services. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Flying hospital Sep 12, 2009
TREATABLE CONDITIONS Cataract Childhood blindness Corneal blindness Diabetic retinopathy Glaucoma Retinoblastoma Retinopathy of prematurity Strabismus Trachoma. In the 1970s, while touring throughout the developing world, he was shocked by the state of eye care services he found in these countries. (BBC News -- Africa)
Study indicates controlling trachoma could reduce child mortality Sep 4, 2009
treatment to control the non-fatal eye disease trachoma, suggests new research. "We've known for 20 years that we can easily prevent trachoma and the excruciating pain and blindness it causes. This study shows trachoma control goes far beyond blindness prevention - it also saves lives," said former U.S. ... Trachoma is an infection of the eye caused by the bacterium Chlamydia. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Blindness antibiotic may cut child deaths in Ethiopia Sep 2, 2009
A study in today s Journal of the American Medical Association suggests an unintended benefit from efforts to wipe out trachoma, the world s leading preventable cause of blindness. The World Health Organization has set 2020 as the target for eliminating trachoma ... In Ethiopia, a hotbed, 40 percent of children under 10 show signs of active trachoma. (Boston Globe)
Sudan: South At Risk From Blindness Aug 18, 2009
They also know - although no comprehensive studies have been done - that many thousands are at risk from two of the world's leading blindness-causing infectious diseases; river-blindness and trachoma ... Ngor said that the government does not even know if O.V is more or less common than trachoma, another major cause of blindness in the South ... Trachoma occurs when untreated, repeated infections of the eye by bacteria eventually causes scarring so extensive the eyelid partially turns in on... (allAfrica.com)
Red tape may block Aboriginal health aim Aug 17, 2009
It calls for funding to be directed to primary health centres rather than specific problems such as trachoma or diabetes. It's difficult to pull together effective comprehensive primary health care from a series of specific purpose grants all with separate reporting requirements," professor Dwyer said. "Primary health care needs to be responsive to the whole person or family, regardless of the different kinds of health needs. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Ghana close to eliminating blinding trachoma Jul 23, 2009
Accra, July 22, GNA - Ghana, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia say they have reached the goal for eliminating blinding trachoma, the Alliance for the Global Elimination of Blinding Trachoma by the Year 2020 (GET 2020), announced on Wednesday ... It said implemented comprehensively, the SAFE strategy can prevent all cases of blindness from trachoma ... "Pfizer is a committed partner in the international effort to eliminate blinding trachoma and we will continue to work through the International Trachoma... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Australian eye specialist to be honoured Apr 29, 2009
His career has focused primarily on public health aspects of eye disease, including initiatives to treat trachoma and river blindness in developing countries. Prof Taylor is also vice-president of a global body of non-government and professional groups, which is working to rid the world's poorest nations of preventable blindness by 2020. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Community Spread Of Trachoma Could Be Stopped By Treating All Household Members Apr 9, 2009
9, 2009) All members of the household need to be treated for trachoma in order to prevent rapid re-infection, according to a new study published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ... Trachoma is an infectious eye disease, and the leading cause of the world's infectious blindness ... Community-wide administration of antibiotics is one arm of a four-pronged strategy in the global initiative to eliminate blindness due to trachoma. (Science Daily)
* Taiwan gives US$265,000 donation to charity group Mar 22, 2009
Taiwan donated US$265,000 to New York-based Helen Keller International on Thursday to help finance a trachoma prevention project that the foundation launched in Africa ... Since 2004, Helen Keller International has carried out projects in Burkina Faso in collaboration with the UN Childrens Fund and the WHO to weed out trachoma, an eye disease ... Taiwan has been the major financial backer of the trachoma prevention project, followed by Canada, said Spahn, who expressed her gratitude for... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Australian PM pledges over $37 mln to close indigenous gap Feb 26, 2009
3 million dollars would be spent over four years on an extra 1,000 ear and eye surgical procedures, and at least 10 regional teams to treat and help prevent the disease trachoma, as well as on hearing equipment and health awareness programs. Rudd acknowledged in his statement that many challenges lay ahead to achieve the government's goals of improving indigenous people's life, including eliminating the 17-year gap in life expectancy. (Xinhuanet, China)
Australia's PM announces plan to house Aborigines Feb 26, 2009
The government also will spend 58 million Australian dollars ($34 million) to send medical teams into remote areas over four years to treat the blinding infectious eye disease trachoma and deafening ear disorders. Australia is the only developed country that still suffers from trachoma, with 20,000 Aboriginal children infected, Rudd said. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Zambia: Corruption in Water Sector Makes Clean Water a Pipedream Feb 21, 2009
Sanitation-related diseases including cholera and trachoma are the second biggest killer of Zambia's children after malaria. Cholera has claimed more than 500 lives since November 2008. (allAfrica.com)
Enduring legacy Feb 8, 2009
In 1976, Gabi, having already worked with Fred in treating Aboriginal people in Bourke and Wilcannia, joined the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program. Together, they visited 465 remote indigenous communities. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
