ITI Attends 16th Meeting of the WHO Alliance for the Elimination of Trachoma

Most of the world’s leading trachoma experts are gathering this week in Washington, D.C. to examine progress in the fight to eliminate this devastating blinding eye disease.

Led by the World Health Organization, members of the Alliance for Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET 2020) meet annually to analyze progress toward trachoma elimination by 2020, and collaborate on improved ways to go about reaching this goal. A key part of the meeting is a review of the status of SAFE strategy implementation in trachoma endemic countries. SAFE (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement) is the WHO-endorsed strategy for the prevention and treatment of blinding trachoma.

The meeting offers an invaluable forum for the coordination and exchange of ideas between GET 2020 partners to optimize the international approach taken toward treating and preventing trachoma. Information discovered and shared will take us one step closer toward the elimination of blinding trachoma by 2020.  For more information on the global strategic plan created by the International Coalition for Trachoma Control, see 2020 INSight.