Lions Aid Norway with support from the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Trust initiative through Sightsavers is currently implementing the ‘S’ and ‘A’ component of the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy for elimination of Trachoma by 2020. Dubbed “Road to 2020” LAN is implementing the project in 14 Districts of western province, Zambia.

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Trachoma is an eye infection caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia Trachomatis which causes repeated conjunctivitis, and is spread by close contact with an infected person or through transmission by eye-seeking flies.

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It is most commonly found in poor, rural communities where people have limited access to clean water and healthcare. Each infection causes scar tissue to develop under the eyelid which eventually causes them to turn inwards. With every blink, their eyelashes scrape the surface of the eye, scarring the cornea and if left untreated, can lead to irreversible blindness.

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LAN is working with the Ministry of Health and other partners in the province to provide 900 people with surgery to prevent permanent blindness and distribute antibiotics to 700,000 people to treat active infection.