Vietnam announces trachoma eradication

This is an important milestone for Vietnam in general and the health sector in particular after more than 7 decades of striving and determination to prevent trachoma.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Ngoc Dong, Director of the Central Eye Hospital (the unit implementing programs to prevent blindness and trachoma in Vietnam), 70 years ago, trachoma accounted for 80 - 90% of the population, 15% of people had trichiasis due to trachoma, the rate of blindness was 2% of the rural population, trachoma prevention work was implemented in Vietnam.

- Ảnh 1. — Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, presented the certificate of trachoma eradication to Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan.

In early 1957, the Trachoma Institute (the predecessor of today's Central Eye Hospital) was established, continuing to implement blindness prevention programs, with special priority given to trachoma prevention with research and application of advanced methods in trachoma prevention; training a network of ophthalmologists in localities; establishing mobile teams for eye examination and entropion surgery in the community; disseminating knowledge to the entire population on personal hygiene, trachoma prevention and related complications. Vietnam's achievements have been accompanied by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international organizations on technical means.

Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, assessed: Over the past 70 years, the trachoma prevention program in Vietnam has treated hundreds of thousands of people; performed surgery, provided antibiotics, improved hygiene and improved the environment for people to prevent the disease.

According to the National Eye Hospital, the cause of trachoma is the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, which invades and attacks the conjunctiva and cornea. The bacteria exist in the eye secretions of infected people, so they can easily spread and become an epidemic when hands or objects contaminated with the bacteria touch the eyes. Trachoma used to be the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Trachoma is spread by flies, and people can also become infected through direct contact with secretions from the eyes or nose of an infected person. With repeated infections, the eyelashes can be pulled inward and rub against the surface of the eye, causing pain and damaging the cornea. Some patients have to have surgery to prevent blindness from this disease.

Diseases are easily transmitted when the community is not guaranteed conditions of clean water, environmental sanitation, and sharing of personal items (towels, wash basins). To maintain this result, Vietnam needs to maintain conditions to ensure disease prevention and spread.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/viet-nam-cong-bo-thanh-toan-benh-mat-hot-185250414205155895.htm