[post_published]
Geneva | New data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) show a remarkable 63% increase in the number of people treated with an antibiotic for trachoma during the period 2014–2016, considerably improving prospects for the global elimination of the disease. The surge is mainly due to an expanded access to donated azithromycin.
“We now have an accurate picture of where interventions are needed, following the recent completion of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project which identified trachoma-endemic areas in 29 countries” said Dr Minghui Ren, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. “The availability of free and quality-assured azithromycin enables us to support countries in their efforts to save the sight of millions of vulnerable people.”
Read the full WHO press release.