Lives Changed: The Impact of Trichiasis Surgery in Vietnam (Trachoma Matters, Spring 2008)

The ITI-Vietnam office was established in 2000 and works closely with Vietnam Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training, National Institute of Ophthalmology, provincial committees and other international agencies. With the help of its partners, ITI-Vietnam implements the WHO-approved SAFE strategy for the elimination of blinding trachoma by supporting sight-saving TT surgeries, administering donated Zithromax® to cure trachoma infection, promoting hygiene and supporting the improvement of environmental conditions through access to clean water and sanitation.

• Downloadable list of SAFE strategy implementing partners in Vietnam
• Surgery:  A total number of 83,830 people underwent surgery for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) to date.  In 2007, ITI-supported partners carried out 6,518 surgeries, over 3,500 of which were supported by local fundraising efforts coordinated by ITI-Vietnam.  The huge TT surgical backlog still remains a big challenge for the program, which requires intensive effort in order to mobilize sufficient resources for needed surgeries and to ensure that surgical services are provided to the targeted groups.
• Antibiotics:  Over 2.1 million Zithromax treatments have been administered since the inception of ITI’s Vietnam program.  In 2007, Zithromax administration campaigns have been carried out in 80 endemic communes with about 56,000 doses administered.

Face Washing and Environmental Improvement

• In 2007, about 98% of the children screened in the project districts had clean faces.  With school health programs and hygiene education widely adopted in primary schools, messages on face washing/personal hygiene, water and environmental sanitation have been regularly delivered to school children. Trachoma prevention messages continued to be broadcast to districts and communes through loudspeakers.

Population (est. 2004):  82,689,518
Human Development Rank:  105 out of 177
# Endemic Communes remaining in country: 153
# “Graduated” Communes (as of 12/31/07): 850
Target Date for Eliminating Blinding Trachoma:  2010

Trichiasis: 53,500 severe cases
TF:  By the end of 2007, a sharp reduction in TF in children under 9 years old from the original range of 7 to 27% to <5% in all endemic project districts.  The Trachoma Control Program will now focus on eliminating the TT backlog.

• Downloadable document listing the national trachoma control program’s most recent major accomplishments, developments and challenges
• The Trachoma Control Program began in 2000 in 53 endemic districts of 21 Northern and Central Coastal provinces.
• National Program Coordinator: Dr. Nga

ITI-Vietnam Country Representative:  Nguyen Phuong Mai, M.D.

• Link to Dr. Nguyen Phuong Mai’s Bio
• Contact Address:  4/2/1 Nguyen Hong Street, Lang Ha, Dong Da
  Hanoi, Vietnam
• Tel:  +844-7735232
• Fax: +844-8356808
• E-mail:  nmai@itivn.org