In 2018, Sightsavers sought to eliminate trachoma in 14 countries across the African continent. Since then, the humanitarian organization has treated millions of people suffering from this blinding disease while advocating for policy reforms worldwide. It was announced on May 17, 2023, that the disease had officially been eliminated in Benin.

What is Trachoma?

Trachoma is a preventable Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) that can blind people if it is left untreated. It is caused by infection of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through personal contact. It can be easily cured with medical care and antibiotics, but its unrecognized state has made it a public health concern in 42 countries and the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. 

Because it has been neglected in the past, it has been responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people. People living in endemic areas often get the infection many times. The repetition leads to severe scarring on the eyelid, which causes it to cave in and rub against the surface of the eye. This causes damage to the cornea and can eventually lead to blindness. Once trachoma causes blindness, it is irreversible. In June 2022, 125 million people lived in trachoma-endemic areas and were at great risk of blindness. 

Trachoma is extremely common among impoverished communities. This is not shocking, as the environmental factors associated with its transmission include inadequate access to hygienic supplies, water and satisfactory housing. It is hyperendemic in many of the poorest rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, with Africa being the most affected continent. Trachoma greatly reduces the quality of life for people who already live in poverty. 

How Sightsavers Helped Eliminate Trachoma

The official elimination of trachoma would not have been possible without the work of Sightsavers. This humanitarian organization, led by chief executive Dr. Caroline Harper, has treated millions of people while advocating for reform policies around the globe. Here are four ways they made the elimination of trachoma possible. 

1. Used Geographic Coverage Data. Geographic coverage data by Benin’s National Program for the Prevention of Communicable Diseases (PNLMT) was one of the most useful tools in the implementation of successful trachoma elimination strategies, as it ensured no cases were missed and confirmed success via confirmatory mapping. Baseline trachoma mapping was conducted in 2014–2015 with the support of USAID and Sightsavers. Because of this information, mass drug administration and surgical outreach were targeted toward areas that needed it the most. 
2. Performed Eyesight Operations. Surgeons were recruited to the Sightsavers team to perform eye operations and stop the onset of blindness. Surgeries are necessary for advanced stages of trachoma, where the eyelid begins to cave in and rub against the surface of the eye. These skilled surgeons from the Sightsavers team have helped administer 8.3 million eyesight operations for people in affected locations.
3. Fought for the Recognition of NTDs. Since 2018, Sightsavers has become a major player in the fight against NTDs on a global scale. Until recently, NTDs were not recognized by the World Health Organization, allowing them to spread uncontrollably and remain untreated, especially among impoverished populations. 
4. Inspired Local Leadership and Support Networks. Logistical and financial support for community implementation and technical assistance were necessary for the success of trachoma elimination. Along with the hard work of Sightsavers, it was also necessary to retain good local leadership and reach out to communities infected by the disease. With outreach, 1.5 billion treatments were delivered to those suffering from trachoma. Massive drug distributions helped protect villages from the spread of trachoma and other NTDs. Encouraging environmental improvements and facial cleanliness has also been necessary to stop the spread. 

The Achievements 

In 2023, Benin officially joined six other African countries in their achievement of successfully eliminating trachoma. Due to the work of Sightsavers and other organizations, more than 14 million people across 14 countries are no longer at risk of painfully losing their eyesight.  

The success of Sightsavers and the Accelerate Program has the potential to inspire more collaborators from the water, sanitation and hygiene sectors to support the elimination of trachoma. The TT Tracker smartphone app for widespread drug administration and coverage monitoring used by the organization is now being used by other countries in the successful tracking of diseases other than trachoma. The elimination of trachoma in Benin can inspire the leadership of other countries to take the necessary steps to eliminate trachoma as well. While the organizations involved celebrate their successes, they plan to continue their elimination of trachoma, along with other neglected diseases worldwide. 

– Sophia Holub
Photo: Flickr