Trachoma - The Leading Infectious Cause of Blindness
Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, is part of a group of conditions known as neglected tropical diseases or NTDs. Over 137 million people in 44 countries are at risk of trachoma with the African continent being the most affected. Women are 2x more likely to go blind from trachoma than men. People suffering with this debilitating NTD are unable to work and care for themselves and their families.
Learn more at Trachoma
Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, found primarily in impoverished, rural communities with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. Over 137 million people are at risk of contracting this painful, and blinding condition jeopardizing their ability to work and care for their families. Trachoma often begins in childhood and spreads quickly to others. Women are twice as likely to go blind from trachoma due to closer contact with children and livestock. The good new is trachoma is treatable with antibiotics. However, left untreated and after repeated infections, the inside of a person’s eyelid can become scarred and turn inward causing their eyelashes to scrape against their eye with each blink, slowly and painfully leading to blindness. Trachoma can and has been eliminated in many countries using the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy improving the lives of millions of people, especially women, in some of the poorest places in the world. Stop blindness before it happens. Visit seva.ca
