From Africa Recovery, Vol.12#2 (November 1998), Watch page

HEALTH
Major push to eradicate trachoma

Pfizer Inc., the international drugs company, and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, a US charity, announced plans in early November to jointly launch a $66 mn programme to help eradicate trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness in Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Tanzania and Vietnam.

Strains of the chlamydia bacterium cause trachoma, which has blinded some 6 million people worldwide. However, treatment is simple and effective -- just a single dose of an antibiotic once a year, health workers said.

The programme will distribute Zithromax, a long-acting antibiotic, to help meet the World Health Organization's target of eliminating trachoma by the year 2020. The WHO strategy also involves increasing clean water supplies, and carrying out minor eye surgery. Pfizer plans to donate enough Zithromax to treat 3 million people in the five countries over the next two years.

[Back to index] [To Volume12#2 -- full graphics]

Material from this article may be freely reproduced, with attribution to "Africa Recovery, United Nations".
We would appreciate a copy of the reproduction.

Africa Recovery
Room S-931
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA

Tel: (212) 963-6857
Fax: (212) 963-4556
Email: africa_recovery@un.org

Website: www.africarecovery.org
Contact us by email: africa_recovery@un.org