For Immediate Release                                   Media Contact:
February 20, 2009                                         Geoffrey Knox 212-229-0540

NEPAL ON TRACK TO ELIMINATE BLINDING TRACHOMA BY 2014

President of International Trachoma Initiative Travels to Kathmandu for Release of Report Showing Nepal Could Reach Disease Elimination Ahead of 2020 Goal

(New York and Kathmandu) –International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) President Ibrahim Jabr joined the Nepal National Trachoma Control Program (NTP) in Kathmandu today to announce that Nepal is on track to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2014. Findings from a 2008 Mid-Term Review (MTR) were released at a meeting of national and international trachoma control partners, including, among others, the Nepal Ministry of Health and Population, the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, ITI, the Lions Club International Federation, and Helen Keller International.

Trachoma, an infectious eye disease, has blinded or irreversibly impaired the sight of 8 million people living today–41 million more people suffer from active infection, endangering their sight. Trachoma can be treated, prevented, and ultimately eliminated through an community-based, WHO-endorsed approach called SAFE— which includes Surgery to correct trachomatous trichiasis (TT), the advanced and blinding state of trachoma; Antibiotics to treat active disease; Facial washing to reduce transmission; and Environmental improvement to eliminate the disease altogether.

An estimated 6 million Nepalese are currently at risk of trachoma infection, with more than 32,000 already blinded by trachoma. Another 245,000 suffer from active trachoma and active trachoma prevalence rates among children aged 1-9 are as high as 32.7% in some outlying districts of the western region of Nepal.

The MTR results released today show, however, that following a concerted effort by government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working together:

Nepal has reached the WHO’s goal of elimination of active trachoma in five endemic districts.

• SAFE strategy activities are being implemented in all priority districts.
• To date, the NTP with support from ITI and other trachoma control partners have:
  • Administered over 4.8 million doses of Pfizer-donated Zithromax, provided by ITI
  • Performed over 12,800 sight-saving TT surgeries
  • Trained thousands of community health volunteers and teachers on SAFE
  • Built tens of thousands of household latrines

“We are thrilled to see that Nepal has taken full ownership of the SAFE-based program and is on course for reaching the goal of blinding trachoma elimination,” said Jabr. “Thanks to strong partnerships and governmental support, the Nepal National Trachoma Control Program has made significant progress in reducing trachoma prevalence in several districts. We must continue to scale up efforts to implement SAFE activities in all trachoma endemic districts and mobilize resources to clear the backlog of TT surgeries so that Nepal can achieve elimination in the next five years.”

The MTR covers a two-year period from 2005, when a Five-Year Trachoma Control Strategic Plan, was launched, to 2007. MTR objectives include: assessment of progress towards achieving the strategic plan targets, adequacy of current work plans and methods, and the constraints and barriers anticipated moving forward. The MTR also solicits stakeholders’ ideas on expediting progress to reach the goal of trachoma elimination by 2014.

“Today, Nepal is on track to eliminate blinding trachoma despite the political challenges during the past four years,” said Mr. B.B. Thapa, Program Director of the Nepal NTP. “Our achievements have been due to the hard work and active participation of all our SAFE partners, who not only include governmental agencies and nongovernmental and international organizations, but also the staff of our eye hospitals, and many thousands of community health volunteers, health workers, school teachers and staff from water supply and sanitation. We will reach our goal so long as we have active and continued support from each of our partners.”

The key challenges ahead for Nepal in eliminating trachoma are securing sufficient funds and human resources to clear the backlog of TT surgeries and to focus on the F & E components of SAFE to promote face-washing and hygiene behaviors. At the same time, government and NGO partners need to coordinate district level meetings, organize school teachers, parent groups, women groups and local leaders at the community level, and conduct monitoring and evaluation activities.

The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) is a non-governmental organization working to prevent, treat and ultimately eliminate blinding trachoma. With programs in 18 countries in Africa and Asia, ITI is a major proponent and facilitator of the SAFE strategy to prevent and eliminate trachoma through Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement. ITI, created through a public-private partnership of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and Pfizer Inc, collaborates with international agencies, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to build targeted support—including Zithromax® donated by Pfizer—for expanded implementation of the SAFE strategy, operational research and program evaluation, education and advocacy.   http://www.trachoma.org