One More Country Beats Disease that Turns People Blind

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Myanmar is the latest country to eliminate trachoma, a preventable disease that causes irreversible blindness.

“Myanmar’s multi-pronged approach promoting access to good hygiene infrastructure and clean water, strengthening eye care system, and complete community buy-in have enabled the country ensure that people of all ages can now look towards a trachoma-free future,” says Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region.

For trachoma to be completely eliminated, steps were undertaken, such as surgical treatment, topical antibiotic treatment and water, sanitation and hygiene, and health education to promote a change in behavior in order to decrease transmission. From 2005 to 2018, the prevalence of trachoma went from 4% of all cases of blindness to 0.008%.