Eliminating Blinding Trachoma in Amhara region of Ethiopia: Improvement through Partnerships

               Eliminating Blinding Trachoma

Ethiopia is believed to have one of the world’s highest rates of blindness and low vision. Blinding trachoma is more prevalent in many of the poorest and most remote areas in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, especially in areas that have limited access to water and sanitation.

ORDA Amhara Trachoma Control Program (ATCP) in collaboration with CBM Germany has been aggressively implementing to reduce the prevalence of blinding trachoma, and contribute towards the achievement of the Global elimination which depends heavily on the availability of improved Wash programs in the Amhara region.  

The Four year (September 2020 - December 2023) project,with a total budget of EURO 1,298,880 (ETB 48,058,560), benefits 110 thousand (about 56 thousand are female) people in Dahana, Sekota Town, Ziquala, and Abergelleworedas of Waghimra Zone to improve the quality of life of men, women, boys and girls.

The project has constructed 5 deep wells, developed4 springs, and 3 rain water harvesting tankers. It also gave training for 456 women group leaders and 168 anti-trachoma members in schools on trachoma prevention, hygiene and sanitation promotion focusing on face washing and latrine at village level. Community sensitizing for 33,867 on causes, prevention and treatment of trachoma, hygiene and sanitation focusing on face washing.

Evidence show that some improvements in the control of trachoma have been brought through socioeconomic development and control programs along with other disease control programs in many countries. However, trachoma continues to be so prevalent in many of the poorest rural areas of the world, especially in areas that have limited access to water and sanitation.

                            Hand and face washing habits increased

          Eliminating Blinding Trachoma1


ORDA together with funding partners, like CBM Germany are working in various woredas of the region on blindness prevention and control programs focusing mainly on cataract surgery and trachoma control through the SAFE Strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement).

The community sensitization by ATCP workers has improved the construction and utilization of latrines which significantly reduced of the prevalence of active trachoma.

The availability and use of water has increased hand and face washing habits in the area. Trachoma still remains the major cause of infectious blindness worldwide.

                          Accessed safe water schemes in nearby areas

               Eliminating Blinding Trachoma2

The deep well safe water scheme constructed in sekota town that benefits over 16 thousand people is really a magnificent job of the project. The project in collaboration with the local government marvelously completed this project.

W/ro Sintayehu Mekonen is among beneficiary residents of Gomata village, 02 kebele in Sekota town.

              Eliminating Blinding Trachoma3


“Previously, we got water once a month. Hence, we were fetching unsafe water from ponds which are far away from our home. Now, we have got safe water through pipe thanks to ORDA and CBM. Our personal and environmental hygieneis clean and very pleased in life." W/ro Sintayehu said.

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