IMA Supports World Sight Day 2011

IMA World Health has a long history of fighting diseases that cause visual impairment in the developing world. Take a moment to read all that is being done to help others improve their vision and in some cases – save their sight.

IMA World Health/Staff

The World Health Organization estimates that 284 million people are visually impaired in the world, yet 80% of these cases could have been treated, prevented or cured.

This year, Oct 13^th has been designated as a day to shine a light on this problem. World Sight Day 2011 is an international day of awareness for VISION 2020: The Right to Sight. It recognizes blindness and vision impairment as a major global public health issue.

IMA World Health (IMA) is contributing to the effort to combat this problem.

IMA is currently supporting programs in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help treat two major causes of blindness in Africa.

Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, is a Neglected Tropical Disease caused by a parasitic worm that is spread by the bite of an infected blackfly. Skin rash, eye lesions and/or bumps under the skin may occur as symptoms, if left untreated the eye lesions can lead to permanent loss of sight.

Onchocerciasis and Trachoma are both treated by Mass Drug Administration (MDA). MDA is the distribution of drugs to an entire population in order to prevent or eliminate widespread disease.

During the IMA-led SANRU III program from 2001-2006, IMA and the African Program for Onchocerciasis (APOC) co-financed projects in three provinces of the DRC: Bas Congo, Bandundu, and Ituri. The strategy follows the APOC mandate, to provide direct community treatment with ivermectin (mectizan) to eligible men, women, and children. IMA has continued to support Onchocerciasis activities in the Bandundu Province to integrate preventative annual treatment into the normal preventive activities in 9 health zones for a population at risk for this disease.

IMA helps to provide treatment to 3,606 communities and over 1.1 million people. The project has been maintained with assistance from IMA, APOC, Roche, and PCUSA.

Trachoma is another Neglected Tropical Disease that is the result of an eye infection. It’s commonly passed from child to child and child to mother, especially where there are water shortages, numerous flies, and crowded living conditions. Elimination of blinding Trachoma can be achieved by implementation of the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements).

Since 2011, through a grant from the USAID NTD Control Program, IMA supports the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) in Tanzania to address Trachoma as part of the country’s Neglected Tropical Disease Control program.

To learn more about Trachoma, please visit http://www.trachomacoalition.org/