Machinga eliminates blinding trachoma
Heart to Heart Foundation International (HtHFI) says blinding, which is rated as one of the most serious global concerns, has been eliminated in Machinga.
Speaking during the last Facial-washing and Environmental Improvement (F&E) Annual Forum 2018 at Liwonde in the district on Wednesday, HtHFI country representative Boyce Nyirenda said experts set 0.02percent of the whole population as a benchmark for elimination of trachoma.
“Trachoma is common in communities with poor sanitation, crowded living conditions, inadequate clean water and toilets,” he said.
Nyirenda said 2014-18 National Trachoma Action Plan challenged HtHFI to conduct 731 surgeries to bring trachoma to acceptable levels, but the foundation performed 824, surpassing the target. He said trachoma cases dropped from 7.2 percent in children aged between five and nine to less than 5 percent.
Paramount Chief Kawinga said he was impressed with the project which has constructed 440 toilet holes and 71 water facilities in different schools in the district.
Machinga District Council director of planning and development Molson Magombo said cases of trachoma in the district have reduced drastically.
“We are particularly pleased that the project has improved water and sanitation, hygiene [Wash] situation in Machinga since the primary cause of trachoma is poor hygiene and sanitation,” he said.
HtHFI has since handed over surgery component of the project to Machinga District Hospital as one way of sustaining the project as it is winding up on December 31 2018
The $2 million (about K1.5 billion) project was funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica). n
