ITI is a program of The Task Force for Global Health.
The International Trachoma Initiative Manages Pfizer’s Donation of the Antibiotic Needed to Treat Trachoma
Pfizer Inc. donates the antibiotic Zithromax® (azithromycin) through ITI to prevent and treat trachoma. It is a safe and effective medication that is well-tolerated and has a low incidence of side effects.
Trachoma cannot be eliminated through antibiotic distribution alone. For this reason, national health programs seeking a Zithromax® donation to fight trachoma must demonstrate their ability to utilize the antibiotic as part of the World Health Organization-recommended SAFE Strategy for trachoma prevention.
Applying for Zithromax®
The Trachoma Expert Committee and ITI staff, with support from the World Health Organization, review applications for Zithromax® for trachoma control. National programs applying for Zithromax® for the first time can contact ITI to obtain the proper application documents.
Applications are evaluated for donation based on a number of technical and administrative criteria:
- The prevalence of trachoma based on existing information, including recent population-based prevalence surveys.
- An appropriate treatment strategy for the designated population group based on the prevalence of active trachoma.
- The availability of sufficient national program resources to continue treatment until such time as the World Health Organization can certify that trachoma has been eliminated as a public health problem. These resources may include competent and well-trained staff, transportation, and appropriate Zithromax® storage facilities.
- Evidence of support for implementation of the full SAFE Strategy for trachoma control.