Mexico Just Eliminated An Infectious Disease That Is The Leading Cause Of Blindness!
Mexico Just Eliminated An Infectious Disease That Is The Leading Cause Of Blindness!
Since 2004, Mexico has been working to eliminate trachoma, an infectious disease that is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Find out more about this public health victory here!
Since 2004, Mexico has been working to eliminate trachoma, an infectious disease that is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Find out more about this public health victory here!
In 2004, Mexico launched its Trachoma Prevention and Control Program of the Ministry of Health of Chiapas with the goal of effectively eliminating the disease in the country. At the time, more than 146,000 people in Mexico were affected by trachoma. Today they have confirmed that trachoma is no longer a public health issue, affecting fewer than 5 percent of children aged 1 to 9, and less than one case of trachomatous trichiasis (inverted eyelashes) per 1,000 inhabitants. The program primarily targeted children with this slogan:
With water, soap and cleanliness you can prevent trachoma.
Trachoma Brigades
NBC News, April 24, 2017
The program also focused on antibiotics, environmental improvement, and surgery for people with advanced staged trachoma. Mexico is only the third country to receive World Health Organization validation for eliminating trachoma, after Oman and Morocco. According to Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO):
This is a historic moment for public health in Mexico and the Americas. Eliminating a disease is not achieved every day.
Carissa Etienne
NBC News, April 24, 2017
What do you think of this public health victory? Talk to us about it in the comments below, and share with your friends to see what they think!