Distributing Antibiotics to Prevent Blindness

Meselech is a 10th-grade student at the local school in Gereshe, Ethiopia. 

Her village has been part of the Orbis antibiotic distribution for three years now. At first, people were anxious about taking the antibiotic as there were concerns surrounding its safety.

However, Orbis worked with the local community leaders, Community Health Workers, and traditional healers to educate them on the benefits of the antibiotics. Over the years, people in the community have grown to trust Orbis and after the second and third doses, they could see the benefits for themselves.  

The first round had an 81% uptake, the second 86% and the third 96%. 

Meselech is positive about the distribution of antibiotics to treat eye diseases and excited that her village has the opportunity to take it. She and all her family have taken all three doses. 

Meselech said “We know that the drug isn't everything. Whether we take it or not we have to wash our face and hands and use latrines. We are also more aware of the Health Centre services available and we demand a good level of service from the Centre and from our local government. Before Orbis we didn’t know anything about what was hurting our eyes. Now through leaflets, billboards, radio, and teachers, we have a lot of information. And I have now informed my parents and family so we all have made a change. I knew at least ten people in my village that had their eyelashes scratching their eye, and now they have had surgery and are trying not to get it again.” 

Thanks to your generous support, Orbis can continue to distribute this antibiotic, kindly donated by Pfizer, which will enable this society to attain freedom from trachoma and allow the next generation to grow up free from the threat of blindness. 

Thank You!   

Your continued support means people do not have to go needlessly blind.

The blinding and painful eye infection, trachoma, affects approximately 34,000 people in the Gamo Gofa region of southern Ethiopia which has over two million inhabitants. Without treatment, this disease, which often begins in childhood, progresses and robs its victims of their sight, education and livelihoods.  

In the coming months Orbis plans to distribute the antibiotic, Zithromax, to over half a million people from this region. The antibiotic will treat the active trachoma infection and prevent the disease from further transmission. 

Betisa brought his two sons, Guye (4) and Mohammad (7) to the Zithromax distribution clinic in First Mekala Kebele. Guye was examined by the project coordinator and was diagnosed with active trachoma while his older brother was free from infection. Trachoma is a highly infectious disease so both boys were given the antibiotic in order to treat Guy's infection and also to prevent Mohammad from contracting the infection from his brother. 

With thanks to your generosity, Orbis can continue to treat people like Guye and Mohammad and give them a brighter future. 

This antibiotic, kindly donated by Pfizer, will be distributed annually for between three and five years and will enable the society to attain freedom from trachoma and allow the next generation to grow up free from the threat of blindness.  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!