Lavelle Fund for the Blind Awards ITI a Three-Year Grant for Trachoma Control in Ethiopia

Lavelle Fund for the Blind board members, including Daniel Callahan (far left), visit the Silti Zone, Ethiopia

The need for SAFE implementation in Oromia region is high.  Oromia has the second-highest prevalence rate for active trachoma (41.3%) out of all the regional states of Ethiopia, and Ethiopia carries the highest burden of trachoma in Africa.

Together with its local implementing partner Grarbet Tehadisso Mahber (GTM), ITI will use the Lavelle award to reduce the prevalence of active trachoma in four districts of Oromia region through mass administration of the antibiotic Zithromax, improve environmental conditions through the construction of latrines, promote face washing, and support thousands of trachoma trichiasis (TT) surgeries.