Distributing Antibiotics to Prevent Blindness

Orbis recently joined with the International Trachoma Initiative, Pfizer, International Coalition for Trachoma Control and a number of other not for profit organisations to celebrate Pfizer’s donation of the 500 millionth dose of Zithromax, an antibiotic used to treat trachoma.

The milestone marks significant achievement in global efforts to help eliminate this infectious and preventable eye disease that can lead to permanent blindness as a public health threat by the year 2020.

Delegations from across the world gathered in the Waliso region of Ethiopia to celebrate the donation of the 500 millionth Zithromax dose. 

“This milestone highlights what is possible when partners work together toward a common goal and signifies remarkable achievement in our fight to eliminate trachoma globally,” said Virginia Sarah, chair, International Coalition for Trachoma Control, an alliance of organizations committed to supporting national program efforts in more than 30 countries to eliminate trachoma using the SAFE strategy, an approach that includes antibiotic treatment. “Our collective efforts are helping to reduce the impacts of this ancient, preventable disease on affected individuals, families and communities.”

The burden of trachoma remains highest in Ethiopia, with 75 million people at risk, and the Federal Ministry of Health is working with Alliance partners to significantly expand the number of people in Ethiopia who are treated.

“The expansion of the SAFE strategy across Ethiopia is vital in alleviating the sufferings of millions of our people and ultimately eradicating trachoma from our soil,” said His Excellency Dr. Kesetebirhan Admasu, Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. “The burden of trachoma is too high, but with the implementation of SAFE strategies, including Pfizer’s donation of Zithromax, and efficient partnership with international partners, we are determined to achieve this goal.”

Trachoma is an infectious disease, which can develop into a condition in which eyelids turn inwards and eyelashes scrape the eyeball, causing great pain, corneal ulcers and irreversible blindness. There are 232 million people in 58 countries at risk, with more than 80 percent of the global burden of the disease concentrated in 14 countries, mostly in Africa. Trachoma is responsible for the visual impairment of approximately 2.2 million people, 1.2 million of whom are irreversibly blind. It threatens entire socio-economic infrastructures and as a result, is estimated to cause USD $3-6 billion in lost productivity per year across affected countries.

Rebecca Cronin (CEO, Orbis UK) commented: “The magnitude of this incredible milestone highlights the amazing power of partnerships and just what can be achieved when organizations work together towards a common goal. By recognizing each other’s strengths we have created an effective strategy to tackle trachoma. It’s hard to calculate the total impact of this work; hundreds of millions of lives have been positively affected by the distribution of Zithromax. This action has empowered people to generate an income, build up economies through enabling a workforce to be free of this devastating condition and has helped children to gain an education. But we can do more, and we will continue to do so until this condition is stamped out across the world.”