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The Trachoma Initiative

This five-year programme, funded by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, provided 26.6 million antibiotic eye treatments and 102,400 sight-saving operations to help eliminate trachoma in seven countries.

What we’ve learned from the Trachoma Initiative

Read the report (pdf)

How did the programme work?

The Trachoma Initiative, which began in 2014, supported ministries of health to fight trachoma by following the SAFE strategy, a four-pronged approach approved by the World Health Organization.

The SAFE acronym stands for surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvements: this has proven to be the most effective way of ridding communities of trachoma.

Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. It starts as an infection which can be treated with antibiotics. But if it’s not treated, it can develop into an agonising condition which can lead to permanent sight loss.

The programme ran in seven African countries: Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

A key part of the programme was making sure local health care providers have the skills, resources and staff to prevent trachoma, now and in the future, so they can respond to cases should new outbreaks occur.

A close-up of a school student washing her hands using water running from a tap in a large water butt.

SAFE: a strategy to control trachoma

This public health approach covers four methods used to stop the spread of the disease.

More about SAFE

What did the programme achieve?

Two nurses and a surgeon are working on a patient.

Training eye health staff

The Trachoma Initiative has trained local health workers to improve their skills. Surgeons have received training and certification, while case finders have learned to diagnose trachoma.

A close-up of a man holding some paperwork.

Developing expertise

The programme has developed new approaches that can be used in future to ensure the SAFE strategy continues to be effective, and the impact will be felt long after the programme ends.

An eye health worker examines a woman's eyes to check for signs of trachoma.

Progress against NTDs

All countries who took part have made strides towards eliminating trachoma. Malawi is in a two-year surveillance period, after which WHO will confirm it has eliminated the disease.

How the initiative has changed lives

Dr Ndalela examines a child's eyes for signs of trachoma.
Dr Ndalela has been trained as part of the programme, and now travels across Zambia by motorbike to treat people in remote communities who have no access to healthcare.

Looking to the future

Many countries are working towards eliminating trachoma, but sustained, high-quality programmes are needed to enable them to achieve this.

The insight provided by the Trachoma Initiative is helping us to understand what works when it comes to tackling the disease, and will be a vital source of information as countries continue on the path towards trachoma elimination.

Learn more about trachoma and our latest work

This video explains more about the work of the Trachoma Initiative.

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Which organisations were involved?

Sightsavers coordinated the initiative on behalf of the International Coalition for Trachoma Control, collaborating with ministries of health, affected communities, the UK aid-funded DFID SAFE programme (in Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia) and a network of other partners and programmes.

Implementing partners include ITI, The Fred Hollows Foundation, WaterAid, RTI International, Operation Eyesight, Light for The World, John Hopkins, Helen Keller International, CBM, The Carter Center, AMREF and KCCO.

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust was a time-limited charitable foundation, which was established in 2012 to mark and celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. In January 2020, the Trust successfully completed its programmes and ceased operating as a grant-making organisation.

A child in Senegal holds antibiotic tablets in his hand.

More about trachoma

A male eye health worker in Pakistan uses a torch to check a woman's eyes for signs of advanced trachoma.

Pakistan is 19th country worldwide to eliminate trachoma

Thanks to support from Sightsavers and partners, the country’s achievement means that around 3.7 million people will no longer be at risk of contracting the infectious eye disease.

October 2024
A mother and her young daughter hug and smile.

Sightsavers funds record number of operations in 2023

In 2023, Sightsavers carried out more cataract operations than ever, according to figures published in the latest annual report.

September 2024
A community drug distributor hands an elderly man medication to treat trachoma.

WHO report reveals millions no longer at risk from trachoma

The number of people at risk from trachoma has fallen by more than 12 million in a single year, according to a new report by the World Health Organization.

July 2024

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