TRACHOMA

1. TRACHOMA • Leading cause of preventable blindness. • Disease is of public health significance in the Northern and Upper West Regions. • Targeted the year 2010 for the elimination of trachoma as a blinding disease using the SAFE strategy

2. KEY MAP OF NORTHERN GHANA SHOWING THE DISTRICTS WITH TRACHOMA CONTROL ACTIVITIES Bongo Bawku East Bawku West Kassena Nankani Lawra Bolgatanga Jirapa L. Sissala Builsa East Mamprusi Nadawli West Mamprusi Wa LEGEND Gushiegu/Karaga Saboba-Chereponi Upper East Savelugu Nanton Tolon Kumbungu 2001 Intervention dsitricts West Dagomba East Dagomba West Gonja Nan (Zabzugu) Bole Nanumba East Gonja KM 0 50 100 2003 Expansion 2004 Expansion

3. Targets for 2006 • Targets for 2006 set at the 2005 Review meeting in Wa UWR • Detect and Operate on 1,607 people with trachomatous trichiasis • Treat 1.2 million people in 2,215 communities with antibiotics • Advocate for 848 safe water sources • Advocate for 5,622 household latrines • Train 1,487 Health workers, 255 EHOs, 837 Teachers and 3,997 Volunteers

4. Surgery Strategies • Create awareness about SURGERY and identify people with TT • Conduct active case search and surgery • Perform surgery FREE in the community and at Health facility

5. Trachoma Control in the Context of MDG and other International Initiatives • MDG 1: Eradication of hunger and extreme poverty • MDG6: Control of HIV, Malaria and other diseases

6. Trichiasis Surgery

7. Community-based TT Surgery

8. Performance of each region compared with target set 2004-2006

9. Constraints - Surgery • Inadequate funding for surgery activities • Strategies that are known to yield good results are not used • Inadequate number of TT surgeons

10. Antibiotics Strategies • Use of volunteers for registration • Use of Azithromycin and 1% tetracycline • Training of volunteers and health workers • Use of volunteers and health workers for drug administration • Use of Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination registers in districts where LF programme exists

11. Refresher Training for Antibiotics Distribution

12. Achievements -Antibiotics

13. Achievements –Antibiotics (Tetracycline)

14. Constraints • Inadequate funding and delay in the release of funds • Failure to treat during the schedule time • GHS failed to provide 1% tetracycline • Information on number of people eligible not provided by some districts so calculation of coverage is not possible • Figures on people treated and drugs used are inconsistent and not accurate in many cases

15. Face Cleanliness Strategies • Health education and screening through community and house hold sessions • Hold school sessions to educate and screen pupils • Use of health education materials; picture books, flip charts, etc • Use of different channels and media to disseminate information • Education on personal hygiene and improved sanitation

16. Achievements – Health Education

17. Communities receiving education 2004 - 2006

18. Achievement – facial cleanliness 2006

19. Environmental Improvements Strategies • Construction of household latrines • Advocate for communal latrines in communities • Advocate for more safe water sources in communities • Advocate for the provision of sanitation facilities in communities

20. Achievements – Environmental Improvement

21. Programme Management • National level: 3 National Taskforce meetings held • At Regional Level: 2 Regional Task Force meetings held. • At District level: 20 District Task Force meetings were held • 6th Annual Trachoma Review Meeting held in Tamale

22. Constraints/Challenges • Inadequate funding for the programme • Poor documentation of records • Late or No submission of reports by some districts • Insufficient monitoring and supervision

23. Plans for 2007 • Baseline prevalence survey in the Upper East Region • Prevalence survey in selected districts in the NR and UWR • Scale up of TT surgeries • Continue with Antibiotics distribution • Advocate for more latrines and water sources