|
A landlocked country situated between Mauritania and Niger, Mali is among the least developed countries in the world, ranking 174 of 177 on the Human Development Index, a composite of socio-economic indicators. Mali is one of Africa’s most politically-stable countries and rarely makes international headlines, yet it faces significant challenges including widespread poverty and insufficient access to quality healthcare. Major public health concerns in the country include lower respiratory infections, malaria, diarrheal diseases, and nutritional deficiencies.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health has included the elimination of trachoma, a highly-infectious neglected tropical disease with serious economic and social consequences, among its national priorities. In Mali, 11% of the population is afflicted with an active trachoma infection and over 67,000 have lost all or part of their sight to trichiasis, a debilitating condition caused by trachoma.
Global Medical Assistance Program
AmeriCares Trachoma Program: Preventing Blindness in Mali
AmeriCares began assisting Mali’s national efforts to control trachoma in 2004, and extending the reach of antibiotic treatment and surgical supplies for the disease has become the cornerstone of our work in the country.
Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, trachoma is most prevalent where living conditions are crowded and sanitation systems underdeveloped. Repeat and chronic trachoma infections lead to trichiasis, a painful condition whereby the eyelids become scarred and pull eyelashes inward, scratching the cornea. In turn, persistent damage to the corneas leads to scaring and the loss of sight.
In 2004, AmeriCares joined a coalition effort led by the World Health Organization for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET 2020). AmeriCares contributes in-kind resources for the GET 2020 strategy known as SAFE: Surgery to reverse trichiasis, Antibiotics to cure active infection; Face washing to prevent further contagion; and Environmental change, including clean water and sanitation, to reduce rates of transmission. In Mali, AmeriCares directs its donations to “S” and “A,” the most challenging components of the strategy. AmeriCares works through a close partnership with the International Trachoma Initiative and Pfizer, who donates the medicine toward this WHO-led global elimination effort.
For “A,” AmeriCares has partnered with the International Trachoma Initiative and Pfizer to expand antibiotic treatment efforts. In 2008, Mali will receive a portion of the 15.6 million courses of treatment of Zithromax® Pfizer donated to AmeriCares specifically for trachoma control efforts.
In addition to the treatment of active infection, AmeriCares is providing resources to help the Ministry of Health scale up trichiasis surgery activities. In the spring of 2008 AmeriCares will deliver 75 specialized kits of ophthalmic instruments and consumable supplies to the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness. With these kits, health practitioners will embark on campaigns to bring trichiasis surgery to rural communities. In 2008 alone, the kits will enable operators to eliminate the backlog of persons needing trichiasis surgery in the entire Segou region. As a result, roughly 13,000 people will regain part or all of their sight, and with it, their independence and productivity.
Help AmeriCares save lives in Mali and around the world »
|
