Senegal Becomes Ninth African Country To Eliminate Trachoma

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Senegal arsenic having eliminated trachoma arsenic a nationalist wellness problem. Senegal becomes nan ninth state successful WHO's African Region to person achieved this feat.

"I commend Senegal for freeing its organization from this disease", said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "This milestone is yet different motion of nan singular advancement being made against neglected tropical diseases globally, and offers dream to different countries still moving to destruct trachoma."

Trachoma has been known successful Senegal since nan early 1900s and was confirmed arsenic a awesome origin of blindness done surveys successful nan 1980s and 1990s. Senegal joined nan WHO Alliance for nan Global Elimination of Trachoma successful 1998, conducted its first nationalist study successful 2000, and completed afloat illness mapping by 2017 pinch support from nan Global Trachoma Mapping Project and Tropical Data. Trachoma power was consistently integrated into nationalist oculus wellness programmed, first nether nan National Program for Blindness Prevention (PNLC) and later done nan National Program for nan Promotion of Eye Health (PNPSO) – maintaining its committedness to trachoma elimination.

Today we observe our triumph against trachoma, 21 years aft nan 1 against dracunculiasis. This caller milestone reminds america that our overarching extremity remains a Senegal free from neglected tropical diseases. We are afloat committed to this, and we are making bully progress, notably against quality African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and onchocerciasis".

Dr. Ibrahima Sy, Senegal's Minister of Health and Social Action

Senegal implemented nan WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to destruct trachoma pinch nan support of partners, reaching 2.8 million group who needed them crossed 24 districts. These activities included proviso of room to dainty nan precocious blinding shape of nan disease, conducting antibiotic wide supplier management of azithromycin donated by Pfizer done nan International Trachoma Initiative, carrying retired nationalist consciousness campaigns to beforehand facial cleanliness, and betterment successful entree to h2o proviso and sanitation.

Trachoma is nan 2nd neglected tropical illness to beryllium eliminated successful Senegal. In 2004, nan state was certified free of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) transmission. Globally, Senegal joins 24 different countries that person been validated by WHO for having eliminated trachoma arsenic a nationalist wellness problem. These are Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Ghana, India, Iraq, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. These countries are portion of a wider of group of 57 countries that person eliminated 1 aliases much neglected tropical diseases.

WHO is supporting Senegal's wellness authorities to intimately show communities successful which trachoma was antecedently endemic to guarantee location is nary resurgence of nan disease.

"Trachoma has formed a protector complete communities successful Senegal for much than a century. This long-awaited validation is not only a milestone for nationalist wellness but a powerful tribute to nan tireless dedication of frontline wellness workers, communities, authorities leaders, and partners who ne'er gave up," said Dr Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative successful Senegal. "Today, we adjacent a section that began complete a 100 years ago, agreed pinch pride, gratitude and resolve. WHO remains committed to supporting Senegal arsenic nan state continues to lead successful sustaining this hard-earned achievement."

Disease prevalence

Trachoma remains a nationalist wellness problem successful 32 countries, pinch an estimated 103 million group surviving successful areas requiring interventions against nan disease. Trachoma is recovered chiefly successful nan poorest and astir agrarian areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, nan Western Pacific and nan Middle East. WHO's African Region is disproportionately affected by trachoma, pinch 93 million group surviving successful at-risk areas successful April 2024, representing 90% of nan world trachoma burden.

Significant advancement has been made successful nan conflict against trachoma complete nan past fewer years and nan number of group requiring antibiotic curen for trachoma successful nan African Region fell by 96 million from 189 million successful 2014 to 93 million arsenic of April 2024, representing a 51% reduction.

There are presently 20 countries (Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of nan Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) successful WHO's African Region that are known to require involution for trachoma elimination. A further 3 countries successful nan Region (Botswana, Guinea-Bissau and Namibia) declare to person achieved nan prevalence targets for elimination.