Discover how communities and experts are joining together to end trachoma disease across 44 endemic countries. Explore how the trachoma disease is being combated across the globe. Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease. It occurs in some of the poorest populations with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, and is the leading cause of blindness in the world. Based on 2019 data, it is estimated that 142 million people are at risk of trachoma in 44 endemic countries. On this course, you’ll explore the history of trachoma, how it is graded in individuals, as well as studying the decision making involved in eradicating this tropical disease.
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You’ll also discover how trachoma elimination strategies are implemented across the globe.
What topics will you cover?
- Natural history, clinical signs and grading of trachoma
- Evidence from global mapping of trachoma
- Planning and coordination of trachoma mapping and control activities at community, district, national and global levels
- Development of a Trachoma Action Plan
- Public health approach for the control of trachoma
- How epidemiological data provides guidance for interventions and setting local targets
- Practical approaches for the four elements of the SAFE strategy to control trachoma: surgery, mass distribution of antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement
- S: strategies for community mobilisation, preparing patients, selecting surgical methods, managing post-surgical trichiasis and monitoring outcomes and outputs towards elimination
- A: selection of antibiotics, distribution pathways, microplanning local campaigns, addressing barriers and managing coverage
- F&E: Understanding influences on behaviour, situation analysis for F&E, assessing sanitation hardware requirements, identifying and engaging with appropriate stakeholders for water, sanitation and hygiene activities
- Assessing the validation process for trachoma elimination
- Monitoring and evaluation indicators of SAFE interventions for impact and surveillance surveys
- Completion of the WHO dossier to validate the elimination of trachoma at national level
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Assess the natural history, clinical signs and grading of trachoma
- Describe the evidence from global mapping of trachoma
- Reflect on the public health approach for the control of trachoma
- Evaluate the planning and coordination of trachoma mapping and control activities at community, district, national and global levels
- Discuss how epidemiological data provides guidance for interventions and setting local targets
- Interpret, and elaborate for the local setting, each of the SAFE strategy components to manage and control trachoma
- Apply monitoring and evaluation indicators of SAFE interventions for the validation and certification of elimination of trachoma at district and national level
