Kawourou Doucouré lives in the village of N’tièlè.  He is 60 years old and married with eight children. He tills the land near his home, a traditional mud hut covered by sheet iron.

Kawourou has noticed changes in his community due to trachoma control.  “The project came to dig slab latrines for cleanliness, and I notice that there is a reduction of flies and other insects,” he said.  “Pills have been distributed in our community here to protect us against eye problems,” Kawourou said, referring to Zithromax administrations to combat trachoma infection.  “I am sure that it is a good thing for the children, they will not have complications like us.”

Like other men and women living in communities in the Banamba district, Kawourou had suffered from repeated trachoma infections that led to TT.  When the chief of Kawourou’s village announced the arrival of a team of health workers from the community health center that would be performing eyelid surgeries, Kawourou took advantage of the opportunity.

“I had watering of the eyes, with eyelashes that fell on the eyes, and that very much bothered and pained me,” he said.  “I had so many problems that I was obliged to stay at home.  I hardly walked by myself.  I was scared of becoming blind forever.”

“But [because of the surgery] I see well. I can work as necessary, I have even had a good harvest this year and my children will not go hungry this year.”