Context

• During the World Health Organisation South-East Asia Regional Committee meeting in New Delhi, it was announced that India has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.
• India is the third country in the South-East Asia region to achieve this feat. Malawi was the first country in southern Africa to eliminate trachoma.

Trachoma

• Trachoma is an infectious eye disease usually caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.
• This disease affects the inner lining of the eye lids and can lead to blindness if not treated timely.

Symptoms:

• Pain in the eyes
• Burning sensation in the eyes
• Swelling on the eyelids
• Small pimples on the eyelids
• Sticky substance coming out of the eyes
• Blurred vision

Why does trachoma occur?

• Bacterial infection: This disease is caused by a bacterium called ‘Chlamydia trachomatis’.
• Dirt and uncleanliness: Poor hygiene, direct contact with an infected person, sharing infected clothes or towels, etc. are the main causes of the spread of this disease.
• Crowded areas: People living in crowded areas are at a higher risk of this disease.

National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB)

• Started: 1976
• 100% centralized program
• Main objective: To reduce the prevalence of blindness to 0.3% by 2020

World Health Organization (WHO)

• A specialized agency of the United Nations
• Formed: April 7, 1948
• Chairman: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland