International Trachoma Initiative Appoints Ibrahim Jabr As President

"Ibrahim Jabr's contributions have been stellar, and we are pleased to have him as a full partner in charting ITI's progress and strategic direction."

-- Robert L. Mallett, Board Chair

(December 17, 2007) – The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), the world's only non-governmental organization dedicated solely to the elimination of blinding trachoma, has named long-time international public health expert Ibrahim Jabr as its president. Mr. Jabr has extensive experience in child health development and in the use of public education and social mobilization to address global health issues.  He has been associated with ITI for nearly three years, first as vice president for programs and, most recently, as interim president of the organization.  ITI's headquarters are based in New York City with country programs in 15 countries in Asia and Africa.

Trachoma, an infectious eye disease and the world's leading cause of preventable blindness, has blinded or irreversibly impaired the sight of 8 million people and endangers the sight of 84 million more.  This neglected tropical disease affects poor communities in 55 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia and results in an estimated US$2.9 billion in lost productivity each year.  Trachoma can be treated, prevented, and ultimately eliminated through an innovative community-based, WHO-endorsed approach called SAFE—an integrated program that includes Surgery to correct advanced stages of the disease, Antibiotics to treat active disease using Pfizer-donated Zithromax®, Facial cleanliness to reduce transmission, and Environmental improvement to eliminate the disease altogether.

"I am honored to be named ITI president, and plan to build on its past achievements in preventing, treating and eliminating blinding trachoma," said Jabr.  "This disease of poverty disproportionately affects women and children, devastating families and communities and slowing vital human development.  At the same time, trachoma is relatively easy and cost effective to cure and to prevent. With a concerted effort and single-minded focus, we believe the world can meet the goal of eliminating blinding trachoma by 2020."  

"Ibrahim's contributions as interim president of ITI in recent months have been stellar," said Robert L. Mallet, ITI's Board Chair and Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Pfizer Inc.  "He has exhibited the kind of strong and steady leadership that helps to guide organizations as they plan their futures.  The Board values his insights and we look forward to working with him to chart ITI's progress and strategic direction."  Mr. Jabr will play a key role in ITI's current process investigating a new operating model to accelerate the pace of trachoma control and ensure the goals of the World Health Organization's global elimination of blinding trachoma by the year 2020 (GET 2020).

Jabr has played a major role in guiding the work of ITI since he joined the organization as vice president for programs in January 2005.  He was a key player during the organization's 2005 strategic planning process and has inspired ITI's role as a catalyst in expanding the SAFE Strategy into key countries and as a convener in building partnerships with governments and other NGOs committed to eliminating blinding trachoma by 2020.  

Prior to joining ITI, Jabr spent 30 years with UNICEF.  He was directly responsible for program planning, implementation and monitoring while posted in Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.  He worked in UNICEF Headquarters in New York from 1987-1994 as Senior Program Officer in the Evaluation Office and later as Senior Program Officer in the Geographic section. Starting in 1995, Jabr served as UNICEF's Representative in Iran, then in D.R. Congo, Ethiopia and Pakistan. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and French and has basic knowledge of Spanish, Farsi and Amharic.