OVER 600,000 IMMUNISED AGAINST TRACHOMA IN WESTERN PROVINCE
The 2017 Trachoma Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign which commenced last September has reached over 600,000 people with in Trachoma endemic districts of western province.
The MDA being implemented by LAN with support from the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Trust through Sighsavers ran from 25th September to 13th October, 2017. The campaign was conducted in 11 out of the 14 endemic districts of Western Province namely Shangombo, Sioma, Senanga, Nalolo, Kalabo and Sikongo District.
Others are Mitete, Lukulu, Luampa, Kaoma and Nkeyema Districts. The other three endemic districts scheduled to conduct one round of MDA next year are Mwandi, Sesheke and Mulobezi District.
Similar Trachoma MDAs under the National Trachoma Elimination Programme are currently ongoing in other parts of Zambia with support from other implementing partners including Sightsavers and Orbis under The TRUST funding.
Trachoma is a disease of the eye caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is known to be a public health problem in 42 countries including Zambia, and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people worldwide. Blindness from Trachoma is irreversible.
