2023-09-25 17:27:33
Venezuela is part of the group of 10 countries on the American continent that will receive support to strengthen epidemiological surveillance of trachoma and determine whether this disease constitutes a public health problem among populations living in vulnerable conditions.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the government of Canada have launched an initiative to eliminate this infectious eye disease, the main cause of blindness among women in poor and remote areas of Latin America. This initiative was announced by the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, during the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, reported a PAHO/WHO press release.
Through a contribution of 11.2 million dollars, provided by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), PAHO will expand technical cooperation in ten Latin American countries with the objective of strengthening surveillance and expanding treatment of the disease, reaching to 10 million people in the next five years.
Caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, trachoma is transmitted both by flies and by direct contact with the eye secretions of infected people. The disease mainly affects those who live in conditions of extreme poverty. Among the factors that favor transmission are overcrowding and poor hygiene and sanitary conditions. It is estimated that women are twice as likely to be affected by this disease and up to four times more likely than men to be blinded by trachoma.
The collaboration between PAHO and Canada will focus on at-risk populations in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru, where trachoma is endemic and affects 5.6 million people. Six other countries will also receive support to determine whether this disease constitutes a public health problem: Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Venezuela and Mexico. The latter, which became the first country in Latin America to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem in 2017, will receive support for the implementation of surveillance actions in order to prevent the reappearance of the disease.
In Venezuela, studies will be carried out in ten evaluation units made up of 22 selected municipalities in five states: Amazonas, Apure, Delta Amacuro, Zulia and Bolívar. This effort will be carried out after disease surveillance actions were carried out in 2018 and 2019 in indigenous communities in the state of Amazonas and cases were identified in the state of Bolívar.
Neglected diseases
Neglected infectious diseases, including trachoma, are a diverse group of 20 parasitic, bacterial and fungal diseases that have a disproportionate health impact on vulnerable populations, including ethnic minorities. Risk factors include poverty, income inequality, lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation, as well as barriers to education and health services, among others.
PAHO supports countries in the Americas to accelerate efforts toward the elimination of these diseases through integrated approaches focused on increasing access to health services, improving health information and surveillance systems, and addressing social and environmental determinants. of health and strengthen governance to leave no one behind.
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