For Immediate Release                                                                                                    Media Contact:
February 21, 2008                                                                                                            Geoffrey Knox 212-229-0540
                                                                                                                                              Beth Weinstein 212-490-6460 x34

INTERNATIONAL TRACHOMA INITIATIVE PRAISES NEW U.S. COMMITMENT TO FIGHT NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

(February 21, 2008) — Ibrahim Jabr, president of the International Trachoma Initiative, issued the following statement today in response to President Bush’s announcement of $350 million of U.S. support to control seven major neglected tropical diseases:

“The International Trachoma Initiative welcomes President Bush’s announcement of a greatly needed influx of U.S. funds to fight seven neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including blinding trachoma.  These diseases not only cause needless suffering, disability and in many cases death for up to one billion people worldwide, mostly children and women, they also greatly limit human and economic development in affected countries and deprive children and youth of a better future.  With these funds, the United States is expressing its commitment to promoting the well being of individuals and societies and to increasing educational and economic opportunities by eliminating the diseases that keep these goals so far from so many.

“As with many NTDs, trachoma, the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness, is relatively easy to treat and to cure.  What has been lacking is public awareness, political support and adequate funding. We join with President Bush in urging the leaders of the world’s wealthiest countries to increase their commitments to close the funding gap for NTDs and to ensure an approach that goes beyond drug treatment to include preventive and rehabilitative activities, positive behavior changes and improvements in the living environment.  A global effort to control and eliminate trachoma and other NTDs will lead to a healthier, more secure world for all—one in which we are able to meet the goal of eliminating blinding trachoma by 2020.”  

Trachoma, an infectious eye disease, has blinded or irreversibly impaired the sight of 8 million people and endangers the sight of 63 million more.  This neglected tropical disease affects poor communities in 56 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia, resulting in billions of dollars in lost productivity each year. Trachoma disproportionately affects women and children. It can be treated, prevented, and ultimately eliminated through an innovative community-based, WHO-endorsed approach called SAFE— which includes Surgery to correct advanced stages of the disease, Antibiotics to treat active disease, Facial washing to reduce transmission, and Environmental improvement to eliminate the disease altogether.

The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) is the world’s only non-governmental organization dedicated solely to the prevention, treatment and elimination of blinding trachoma.  With programs in 15 countries in Africa and Asia, ITI is a major proponent and facilitator of the SAFE strategy to prevent and eliminate trachoma through Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement. ITI, created through a public-private partnership of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and Pfizer Inc, collaborates with international agencies, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to build targeted support—including Zithromax® donated by Pfizer—for expanded implementation of the SAFE strategy, operational research and program evaluation, education and advocacy.  http://www.trachoma.org

The statement above is in response to President Bush’s announcement of $350 million of U.S. support to control seven
major neglected tropical diseases.

Read the announcement from The White House, Fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases Around The World (White House Office of Communications, 2/20/08)

 

Archives

December 2007 -- International Trachoma Initiative Appoints Ibrahim Jabr as President
October 2007 -- NASDAQ Recognizes World Sight Day at Closing Bell Cermonies
May 2007 --The Board Announces Mr. Ibrahim Jabr Appointed as Interim President
May 2007 --Dr. Jacob Kumaresan stepping down as the head of the International Trachoma Initiative
July 2005 -- From the Field: Saving Sight
Jan 2005 -- Documentary on trachoma on BBC World as part of “Kill or Cure" series
Dec 2004 Trachoma Control in Morocco highlighted in Millions Saved: Proven Successes in Global Health"
Nov 2004 -- The New England Journal of Medicine publishes study on azithromycin and Trachoma control
Jun. 2004 -- ITI Sponsors Trachoma Media Award
May. 2004 -- Mauritania Launches Trachoma Control Program

About the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI)
ITI is dedicated to eliminating blinding trachoma, the world's leading cause of preventable blindness. To combat the disease, ITI deploys the SAFE strategy: . Surgery to correct advanced stages of the disease . Antibiotics to treat active infection, using Zithromax donated by Pfizer Inc . Facial cleanliness to reduce disease transmission . Environmental change to increase access to clean water and improved sanitation to eliminate disease altogether
The International Trachoma Initiative is a charitable organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(a) of the US Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3)
ITI Communications Contact Geoffrey Knox 212-229-0540 Beth D. Weinstein Tel: 212 490-6460   Fax: 212 490-6461 E-mail: communications@trachoma.org
International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) . 441 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor . New York, NY 10017 . USA