Zithromax distribution Sightsavers support will help Chad and the Central African Republic access the Zithromax distribution programme. © Zul Mukhida / Sightsavers

Stepping up the fight against trachoma

Sightsavers recently announced plans to eliminate blinding trachoma, and these plans include support, where needed, to countries wgere we are not currently working. We've therefore signed an agreement to support trachoma work in Chad and the Central African Republic, as part of our initiative to fast track elimination..

This work will be carried out with the Organisation pour la Prévention de la Cécité (OPC) which is based in France. As OPC have the knowledge and experience of working in Chad and the Central African Republic, it is more practical to offer support to OPC rather than start new Sightsavers programmes in these two countries.

This support will cover the following two areas:

Drug donation

Support Chad and CAR to gain access to the Zithromax programme by developing a national plan for trachoma. Zithromax is the antibiotic donated to treat the trachoma infection, and is distributed to everyone in the community to protect against reinfection.

Trichiasis surgery

The funding will also go towards ensuring the quality of trichiasis surgery, to treat the painful later stages of the disease where the eyelashes are being pulled inwards and scraping against the eyeball.