The elimination of blinding trachoma in Ghana through improving access to water and latrines

The cause of trachoma is Chlamydia trachomatis, but its main determinant is poverty. especially low water and latrine coverage. The trachoma global control programme strategy is S.A.F.E.: Surgery and Antibiotics – medical interventions; Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement – social interventions. Over a ten year period, 2000-2010, the Ghana Trachoma Control Programme has reduced the prevalence of trachoma from 9.7-16.1% to less than 2.8% in endemic districts. Through increased water coverage from a low 6.67% to a high 96.3%, and latrine coverage from a low 1% to a high 30.8% at district level as part of a comprehensive SAFE strategy, Ghana is set to achieve the elimination of blinding trachoma, the first sub-Saharan country to do so. The strong collaboration between the health, education and WATSAN sectors within the National Trachoma Taskforce has demonstrated how a disease of poverty can be successfully eliminated and contributions made to the MDGs.