Malawi has become the first country in southern Africa and the fifth in Africa to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem – a disease that affected 7.6 million people nationwide in 2015.
The disease is a devastating condition which can turn eyelashes inwards so that they scrape painfully against the eyeball and when left untreated can cause permanent loss of sight.
The World Health Organization (WHO) made the announcement following 12 years of sustained action led by the Government of Malawi with a network of support, spearheaded by the non-profit organization by the name Sightsavers.
Malawi’s announcement follows recent elimination successes in other African countries, namely Morocco, Ghana, The Gambia and Togo.
UPLOADED BY JESUTOMIKE AKOMOLAFE
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