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Trachoma, a bacterial eye infection, was a leading cause of blindness among Indians in the late 1950s. According to the World Health Organization, it has been declared a public health emergency in India. WHO on Tuesday extended support to India for the feat, which was achieved only by Nepal and Myanmar in the region, PTI reported.
An official certification was handed over to Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, by Saima Wajed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, during the Regional Committee meeting, WHO South-East Asia Region. National capital on Tuesday.
What is trachoma?
Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection that is predominantly prevalent in deprived communities living in poor environmental conditions.
What causes trachoma?
Trachoma is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Trachoma is contagious, spread by contact with secretions from the eyes, eyelids, nose or throat of infected people, causing irreversible blindness if untreated.
How many people are affected by trachoma?
According to WHO, approximately 150 million people worldwide are affected by trachoma, a neglected tropical disease. According to WHO, about 150 million people contracted this contagious eye infection, causing about six million of them to lose their eyesight. Many patients with trachoma are at risk for vision-impairing complications.
Prevalence of trachoma in India
In India, people suffered the most from this infection during 1950-60. To curb the increasing cases of trachoma, the Government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963 and later trachoma control efforts were integrated into the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB) of India.
Reduction in trachoma cases in India
Following government initiatives, trachoma cases declined significantly and reached five percent in 1971. As a result of various interventions under the National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), the number of cases has reduced significantly and currently comes within one percent. ), PTI reported.
India declared free from trachoma in 2017
India was declared free from trachoma in 2017 after the WHO SAFE strategy was implemented across the country. Under the strategy, various measures such as surgery, antibiotics, facial hygiene and environmental sanitation were adopted to eliminate the disease. However, surveillance of trachoma cases continued in all districts of India from 2019 to 2024.
Trachoma eradication in India
WHO declared India free from trachoma and acknowledged its success in eliminating the disease as a public health problem following the National Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT Only) Survey, which targets 200% of the country under NPCBVI by 2021-24. It was also done in local districts.
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