The international commitment to eliminate trachoma
- Control is the reduction in disease incidence, prevalence, intensity, morbidity or mortality (or a combination of these) to a locally acceptable level. Activities to maintain the reduction are required, for example, as used for diarrhoeal disease.
- Elimination of infection (interruption of transmission) implies that disease incidence has been reduced to zero or below the acceptable threshold, in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts. Continued measures to prevent re-establishment of transmission is required. Examples are measles, poliomyelitis.
- ‘Elimination as a public health problem’ is used only upon achievement of measurable targets for control set by countries. Trachoma’s target is elimination as a public health problem.
- Eradication is the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection and further continued action is not required: for example, smallpox.
Global trachoma elimination
With this in mind, the strategy to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem has specific targets to attain. The plan is built on a framework of:- Urgency to reduce the suffering of people affected by trachoma.
- Accountable ownership – countries lead their own elimination efforts and solicit coordination from donors and partners.
- Integration of trachoma activities at a local level with those for neglected tropical disease (NTDs), universal eye health, national health service development and/or water and sanitation programmes.
- Efficient, coordinated partnerships to scale up intervention and increase coverage within a country and globally across all affected countries.
- Tailoring of implementation to local data and knowledge.
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