HealthHighlight

Nigeria, 15 other countries receive $36.5m funding to combat Trachoma

"The goal is to eradicate the disease by 2027"

1.7k

With Africa ranked as the most affected continent by trachoma, Nigeria and 15 other countries are to benefit from $36.5 million in funding to eliminate the eye disease.

Country Director for Sightsavers, Dr. Joy Shu’aibu, an international development organisation, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Persecondnews reports that Trachoma is a disease of the eye caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

It is a public health problem in 42 countries and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people. Blindness from trachoma is irreversible.

It is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.

The infection is transmitted by direct or indirect transfer of eye and nose discharges from infected people, particularly young children, who harbour the principal reservoir of infection.

These discharges can be spread by particular species of flies.

Dr. Shu’aibu expressed the harrowing impact of trachoma on individuals, adding that the goal is to eradicate the disease by 2027, hence the need for funding through the “Accelerate Programme.”

The country director said: “People describe the pain as like having sand or thorns in their eyes.

“Through the Accelerate Programme, Sightsavers was able to support the government of the Republic of Benin, to eliminate trachoma in 2023.

“And this new funding will supercharge our support for 16 more countries, including Nigeria, to finally end the scourge of trachoma.”

Shu’aibu added that the additional funds would extend the Accelerate Programme, which began in 2018, as part of The Audacious Project, hosted by TED.

According to her, the new funding is from international donors, which include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. Others include the ELMA Foundation and, for Zambia, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, as well as Sightsavers’ own contribution.

Africa is the most affected continent by trachoma, where it is the second leading cause of blindness. Rates in some populations can be as high as 59%.

Most trachoma-related blindness is due to corneal scarring. 48% of trachoma is seen in Ethiopia, India, Nigeria,Sudan, and Guinea.

However, 50% of trichiasis is concentrated in China, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

The primary objective of the initiative is to eliminate trachoma as a public health concern by 2027 in 12 targeted countries, including Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Namibia, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

NAFDAC workers embark on indefinite strike over promotion, welfare issues 

The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), an...

Leave Fubara to govern Rivers in peace, Wike’s ex-commissioner, Tam-George, tells Wike

Mr. Austin Tam-George, a former Commissioner for Information in ex-Gov. Nyesom Wike’s...

Rivers Gov. Fubara swears in 23 new council chairmen

Barely 24 hours after the council polls, Rivers State Gov. Siminalayi Fubara...

SERAP to Tinubu: Withhold federal allocations to states not conducting credible council polls

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu...

Rivers LG poll: Former Army chief Minimah lauds Gov. Fubura for successful exercise

For his resoluteness and seamless conduct of the council polls held on...

FG begins crude oil sales in Naira to Dangote Refinery – Finance Minister

The Federal Government has officially begun selling crude oil and refined petroleum...

Just in: APP wins 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats in Rivers LG poll

The Action People’s Party (APP) has won 22 chairmanship positions out of...

Morocco 2025: Eguavoen picks Ekong, Lookman, Simon, 20 others to battle Libyans

Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has called Captain William Ekong, rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman,...

Horrific! Hubby stabs fatally newlywed wife, sets house on fire in Lagos

In a fit of rage, 30-year-old Motunrayo Olaniyi has allegedly stabbed his...

Rivers LG poll: Gunmen disrupt elections in Obio/Akpor LGA, injure one person

Violence erupted in Rumuepirikom Community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of...

Paul Pogba’s four-year doping ban slashed, set to return in 2025

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has significantly reduced Paul Pogba’s...

FG launches emergency evacuation of Nigerians from Lebanon amid crisis

Following the country’s ongoing crisis, the Federal Government has initiated plans to...

Why I haven’t made documentary about myself, eyes acting – Ruger

Nigeria’s Afrobeat star, Ruger, has explained why he has not created a...

Police release detained Lagos Oct. 1 protesters on bail, hand them over to Sowore

Protesters arrested at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park at Ojota, Lagos, on...

In Lagos, man arrested for stabbing father to death

Chibunnma Chimelie, a 25-year-old man, has been arrested for fatally stabbing his...

NNPC/Seplat JV’s “Eye Can See” Programme Restores Vision, Hope in Imo

The NNPC Ltd/Seplat Energy Joint Venture (JV) partnership has provided 10,000 reading...

African oil-producing nations secure 45% of $5bln Energy Bank funds

Afnations have made significant progress in establishing the Africa Energy Bank (AEB),...

Nigeria faces potential gas supply crisis by 2030, says NUPRC Chief

Nigeria may experience a significant gas supply crisis by 2030, with a...

Protesters storm RSIEC office, demand election proceeds as scheduled

Defying the early rain, angry protesters thronged the Rivers State Independent Electoral...

Zenith Bank’s “Project Tiger” causes widespread disruption, leaving customers stranded

Zenith Bank’s ongoing IT overhaul program, dubbed “Project Tiger,” has resulted in...