Distributing Antibiotics to Prevent Blindness

Thirteen year old Asegedech, who lives with her family in southern Ethiopia, had been suffering with severe trachoma for over two years. Initially her mother took her to a traditional healer which only made her condition worse. While many children her age went off to school each day, Asegedech was forced to stay at home as she was in excruciating pain and her vision was so poor. Trachoma roughens the inside of the eyelids, so for Asegadech, every blink felt like sandpaper rubbing the eye. 

One day, an Orbis-trained eye care worker was visiting Asegedech's village and noticed her weeping, sore eyes. Asegedech was immediately prescribed an antibiotic, which she collected from her local health centre in a nearby town. At the health centre she was aided by public nurse named Tsehay, who had received eye care training from Orbis.                                                           

Thanks to the support of our most generous donors, who help fund eye health training programmes in southern Ethiopia, Asegedech was finally treated for trachoma, she is no longer in pain and she has returned to school to recieve the education that every child deserves. 

Orbis identifies and trains people in local communities, including teachers, to look out for the signs of eye disease. We support the mass distribution of Zithromax – an antibiotic that can treat the early stages of infection. It cost just 15 cent to distribute the antibiotic to treat Asegedech.  

By supporting Orbis you are not only saving a person's sight, you're giving them their future back.

Thank you! 

Sofia, 22, is a Health Extension Worker and is mainly responsible for the preventable aspects of diseases, working at the local health post in the Kebele, Ethiopia. Sofia distributes the antibiotic Zithromax and is also responsible for educating and mobilizing her community on a variety of health related issues including trachoma, malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Initially, there was a lot of fear and suspicion attached to the use of drugs/antibiotics and the community was unaware of the cause and cure of trachoma. People thought trachoma was an ‘evil eye’ or a hand from God to get sick or related to age; as people grew older, they were more probable to get it. 

Sofia’s own father had trachoma and fortunately, was treated and cured with tetracycline eye ointment. Along with the antibiotics, the prevention of trachoma stems into the introduction of suitable sanitary facilities, community latrines and defecation free areas.

Previously, patients refused to go to their consultations. Since, community members have gone for consultation, benefited and now share what they learn – one learns from the other. The demand has increased and Sofia and her team no longer have to chase people to maintain their necessary dosage.

As a designated health extension worker and with the aid of Orbis, Sofia has created a lot of change; people that were averse to using prescribed drugs are now proactive users of the antibiotic Zithromax.