Egypt targets trachoma in seven Governorates with health initiative

EGYPT—Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population has launched a major campaign in April to prevent and treat trachoma, a highly infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, across seven governorates.

This initiative is a key part of Egypt’s national strategy to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem by 2027, following directives from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.

The campaign is being carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), reflecting Egypt’s commitment to improving public health and aligning with global efforts to eliminate preventable blindness.

The campaign began with a rapid national assessment of trachoma prevalence in four governorates: Gharbia, Menoufia, Beni Suef, and New Valley.

These areas were selected using scientific criteria to ensure the assessment covers a range of living conditions and health circumstances, spanning 15 diverse health districts.

The second phase, currently underway, includes the governorates of Sharqia, Minya, and Qena, and is expected to conclude by the end of April.

A central focus of the campaign is screening more than 2,550 children aged one to nine years, as this age group is most vulnerable to active trachoma.

Specialized teams are conducting these screenings, while adults are also examined to identify trichiasis, a severe complication where the eyelid turns inward, potentially leading to vision loss if untreated.

The campaign also emphasizes public education on how trachoma spreads and how it can be prevented.

Flies play a significant role in transmitting the disease by carrying contaminated secretions from one person’s eye to another.

 Additionally, sharing personal items like towels and cosmetics with infected individuals can spread the infection.

To limit transmission, the Ministry of Health stresses the importance of personal and environmental hygiene-regular handwashing with soap and water, avoiding touching the face, proper waste disposal, and careful personal care are all highlighted as essential preventive measures.

Amani El Habashi, Head of the Central Administration for Tropical Diseases and Disease Vectors, noted that this field assessment is part of a broader, multi-faceted health plan.

The plan not only aims to prevent trachoma but also seeks to build lasting community awareness, particularly in villages and remote areas where the disease is more likely to spread.

This campaign builds on previous efforts in Egypt to combat trachoma.

For instance, mass drug administration campaigns have distributed antibiotics to hundreds of thousands of people in affected regions, such as Menia, where nearly 10% of children aged one to nine showed signs of infection.

These efforts are supported by international organizations, including Sightsavers and the International Trachoma Initiative, and have been crucial in making progress toward the goal of eliminating trachoma.

While the campaign does not specify any direct costs to the public or cite budget figures for this specific initiative, Egypt’s broader public health projects, such as pandemic preparedness, have received significant international investment.

For example, a recent pandemic resilience project has a total budget of over US$23 million, illustrating the scale of funding often involved in national health campaigns.

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