Amref holds interschool trachoma competition
Amref Health Africa on Friday held an interschool trachoma awareness competition in Ntchisi with a call for every citizen to participate in facial cleanliness and environment management.
Trachoma is a disease common among school-going children because of their constant contact with dust and dirt.
Speaking in an interview during prize presentation at Chinthembwe Primary School in Traditional Authority Vusojere in the district, Amref acting country director Young Samanyika said trachoma is one of the neglected diseases despite its effects to the human eye.
“If not treated early, trachoma can cause blindness in people who have normal eyesight. It is, therefore, unacceptable for the country to fail to treat a disease that has one of the shortest procedures because little or no money is set aside to fight the disease,” he said.
Samanyika also said they want children living in rural areas to know the cause, symptoms and preventive measures to eliminate the disease.
Ntchisi District Hospital Wash coordinator James Mtonga thanked Amref Health Africa for coming up with the competition aimed at ending trachoma in the district.
