5,000 Surgeries (Joy Online)

Ghana Announces Significant Progress Toward Eliminating Blinding Trachoma
(Africa Science News Service)

- Ghana

ITI has supported the National Trachoma Control Program in Ghana since 2000 and established the ITI-Ghana office in 2002.  In 2007, Ghana’s National Trachoma Control Program was integrated with four other Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) programs, and ITI served as the lead organization in the integration process.  Today, Ghana is on track to eliminate blinding trachoma by the year 2010.

• Downloadable list of the SAFE strategy implementing partners in Ghana.
• Surgery:  A total number of 4,542 people underwent surgery for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) to date.  In 2007, ITI-supported partners performed TT surgeries on 504 people. 
• Antibiotics:  Over 3.1 million Zithromax treatments have been administered to date.  In 2007, 899,065 Zithromax treatments were administered—representing almost 99% of the 2007 target for Zithromax administration.

Face Washing and Environmental Improvement

• Face-washing:  Household and community health education and hygiene promotion sessions continue to be used to reach out to community members. In 2007, trachoma control jingles and short dramas were aired on radio.  Also in 2007, the School Health Education Programme and UNICEF were instrumental in reaching out to school children.  Out of a total number of 44,224 children examined, 37,236 were found to have clean faces (84.2%).
• Environmental Improvement:  During the last six years a number of water and sanitation facilities have been provided through the national trachoma control program to communities in the endemic districts. Some of these facilities were provided to address other Neglected Tropical Diseases, such as Guinea worm. The District Assemblies, as well as various NGOs working in these areas, have provided a significant number of safe water sources.

Population (est. 2007):   22,915,498
Human Development Rank:  135th out of 177
Total # Districts in Ghana:  138
# Trachoma Endemic Districts:  26
 # “Graduated” Districts (as of 12/31/07): 0
Target year for the elimination of blinding trachoma:  2010

• Ghana Trachoma Control Program began in 2000
• National Program Coordinator:  Oscar Debrah

ITI-Ghana Country Representative:  Agatha Aboe, M.D.

• Link to Dr. Aboe’s bio
• Contact address:  ITI-Ghana (opposite SSNIT Pension House)
  Ministries Area, Osu, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
• Tel:  +23322300774
• Fax:  +23321231438
• E-mail:  agatha.aboe@trachomagh.org