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 eliminated in India as a public health emergency. The WHO facilitated India on Tuesday for the feat which was achieved only by Nepal and Myanmar in the region, reported PTI.
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 Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South East Asia during the WHO’s South East Asia Region, Regional Committee meeting held in the national capital on Tuesday.
What is Trachoma?
Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection prevalent mainly among underprivileged communities living in poor environmental conditions.
What causes Trachoma?
Trachoma is a bacterial infection which is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis. Trachoma is contagious, spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, nose or throat secretions of infected people, if left untreated it causes irreversible blindness.
How many people are affected by Trachoma?
According to WHO, nearly 150 million people worldwide are affected by Trachoma, which is a neglected tropical disease. According to WHO, nearly 150 million people were hit by this contagious eye infection, which left nearly six million of them without eyesight. Many Trachoma patients are the risk of visually disabling complications.
Prevalence of Trachoma in India
In India, people suffered from the infection most during 1950-60. To curb the rising cases of Trachoma, the Indian government launched the National Trachoma Control Programme in 1963 and later on Trachoma control efforts were integrated into India’s National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB).
Reduction in Trachoma cases in India
Trachoma cases reduced significantly after the government initiative and reached five per cent in 1971. The number of cases has reduced significantly and come within one per cent at present as a result of various interventions under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), reported PTI.
India declared free from Trachoma in 2017
India was declared free from Trachoma in 2017 after the WHO SAFE strategy was implemented throughout the country. Under the strategy, different measures, such as surgery, antibiotics, facial hygiene, and environmental cleanliness, were adopted to eliminate the disease. However, surveillance continued for trachoma cases in all the districts of India from 2019 onwards until 2024.
Trachoma elimination in India
WHO declared India from Trachoma and acknowledged its success in eliminating the disease as a public health issue after the National Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT only) Survey, which was also carried out in 200 endemic districts of the country under NPCBVI from 2021-24.
