Distributing Antibiotics to Prevent Blindness

Orbis' goal is to reduce avoidable blindness due to trachoma - is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Zithromax is the Pfizer-donated antibiotic used to protect against trachoma-an infectious disease that has blinded millions across Africa.Orbis is currently organising the mass distribution of the antibiotic across a region of two million people in southern Ethiopia. Orbis representatives distribute the antibiotic annually to the entire population. 

Adanech recently travelled, with two of her daughters, to a nearby village to receive their annual dose of the antibiotic, Zithromax. Ten years ago Adanech had suffered from trachoma and she developed the blinding form of the disease - trichasis - after repeated infection without treatment. At that time, she walked five hours to the nearest healthcare clinic where an Orbis-trained nurse conducted sight saving surgery.  

Adanech trusts Orbis and so when she heard about the Zithromax distribution from Health Extension Workers who visited her village, she wanted to make sure that her daughters received the medication and would not suffer from trachoma like she had. 

Adanech said: "In our community sight is very important because we need to go to fetch water, we need to go to buy something from the market, we need to go collect fire wood and the like and we use our eyes. If we have sight problems it is difficult to do all of these activities and we’re not going to be able to contribute. In the past I have seen people in our community that have had trachoma end up begging on the side of the road because they are unable to work. This medicine is going to help us be relieved from all these problems and that’s why I’m here".