My trip to Ghana - Day 5

The day began with a meeting with Dr Agatha Aboe from International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), Philip Downs from The Carter Centre and Dr Maria Hagan, the Head of Eye Care Unit, Ghana Health Service at the WARO offices.

ITI work in the Northern and Upper West regions, where trachoma is known to be prevalent. As there is no full survey of Ghana it is not known whether trachoma exists elsewhere, but they were pleased to hear that we are considering a survey of Upper East region which would at least give a clearer idea of the situation.

The aim is to declare Ghana free of trachoma by 2010. There is currently a backlog of about 9,000 trichiasis operations, but the distribution of azithromycin (an antibiotic) has reduced the incidence of new cases.

We discussed whether there were any ways in which we could cooperate. There’s no scope for co-distribution of azithromycin and mectizan, partly because the Ghana Health Service only allows antibiotics to be distributed by health workers, not volunteers. Also partly because - according to Dr Hagan – there’s no knowledge as to whether the two drugs might interact, so they’re never given together. However, it was thought that training of ophthalmic nurses in particular could be integrated.

Philip Downs was focused on latrine construction, i.e the Facial Cleanliness & Environment part of the trachoma strategy, although the initial driver for the Carter Centre’s work on this had been to reduce incidence of Guinea Worm. There was concern that the emphasis has been placed more on the provision of water and less on sanitation.