International Trachoma Initiative
Encyclopedia
The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) is a non-profit organization committed to the elimination of blinding trachoma
, the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. It was founded in 1998 in response to the World Health Organization
’s (WHO) call to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020 (GET2020). ITI’s founding partners, Pfizer
and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
, saw the need for an international nongovernmental organization dedicated to the elimination of blinding trachoma, an infectious eye disease. To achieve that goal, ITI collaborates with governmental and nongovernmental agencies at national and international levels to implement the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy for trachoma control (Surgery; Antibiotics—using Pfizer-donated Zithromax®; Facial cleanliness; and Environmental improvement).
ITI is a partner of the Alliance for the Global Elimination of Blinding Trachoma by 2020 (GET 2020). Building on trachoma elimination success in Morocco, ITI has been engaged in 19 developing countries in Africa and Asia. Trachoma is suspected to be endemic in 57 countries.
ITI envisions a world free of blinding trachoma. To that end, ITI manages the supply and distribution of the antibiotic Zithromax® donated by Pfizer. Zithromax® treats and prevents trachoma. ITI also helps countries and partners develop supply chain capacity where needed.
To date, Pfizer has donated more than 225 million Zithromax® treatments through ITI, reaching millions of people. ITI plans to be active in more than 42 countries by 2015.
What is Trachoma?
Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis
, which spreads through contact with an infected person. Untreated, repeated trachoma infections make the eyelashes turn inward, scratching the cornea. This causes excruciating pain. Although children are the most susceptible to infection, the effects are often not felt until adulthood. Women, traditionally the caretakers of the home, are twice as likely as men to have the advanced stage of the disease, called trichiasis
.
Without intervention, trachoma keeps families shackled in a cycle of poverty, as the disease and its long-term effects are passed from one generation to the next.
Trachoma was once endemic in Europe and the United States. European immigrants to America had their eyelids flipped and examined upon arrival at Ellis Island in New York. Those diagnosed with active trachoma were returned to their home countries. Trachoma disappeared in Europe, even before antibiotics, because of improved living standards.
Today, about 41 million people, mostly women and children, have active trachoma infection. An estimated 8.2 million people have an advanced stage of the disease, in which the eyelashes turn inward and scrape the cornea, a condition called trichiasis. These people face the risk of visual impairment or blindness unless treated with a simple surgical procedure.
ITI’s Three Key Roles
ITI approaches its mission through three key roles:
1. Manage the supply and distribution of Zithromax® donated by Pfizer
2. Advocate at the global, regional, and country levels for the elimination of blinding trachoma
3. Collect data and manage knowledge on trachoma
Mass administration of Zithromax® is a component of the SAFE strategy, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The SAFE strategy includes:
• Surgery
to correct advanced stages of the disease;
• Antibiotics to treat active infection, including Zithromax® donated by Pfizer;
• Facial cleanliness to reduce disease transmission;
• Environmental change to increase access to clean water and improved sanitation
.
ITI is a Program of the Task Force for Global Health
In April 2009, ITI joined forces with the Task Force for Global Health to leverage resources and significantly increase efforts to eliminate blinding trachoma. The Task Force and ITI are based in Decatur, Georgia, USA. ITI also has an office in Ethiopia
.
The Task Force for Global Health is a not-for-profit, public health organization with a 27-year history of improving the lives of millions of people around the world. Working with a broad network of public and private sector partners, the Task Force for Global Health manages an array of initiatives focused on neglected tropical diseases, immunization and vaccines, and health systems strengthening.
How ITI Works
ITI accomplishes its work by:
· Collaborating with national Ministries of Health, partner organizations, governmental and nongovernmental agencies to support implementation of the “A” - antibiotics - component of SAFE. ITI manages the distribution of Pfizer-donated Zithromax® and ensures it gets where it needs to be on time.
· Promoting “Surgery” for trichiasis, the advanced stage of trachoma, which causes blindness, “Facial cleanliness” and “Environmental improvement” for a comprehensive, sustainable approach.
· Providing technical assistance to countries and partner organizations, including logistical assistance, trachoma control research, and monitoring and evaluation of trachoma control programs.
· Mobilizing resources for trachoma control programs.
· Integrating trachoma control into approaches to eliminate and control other neglected tropical diseases.
· Advocating for trachoma to be included in wider health and development agendas, including those that target improved access to clean water, sanitation, and education, and seek to improve the lives of women and children.
The SAFE Strategy: http://www.trachoma.org/safe-strategy
GET2020: http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/trachoma/en/index.html
Task Force for Global Health: http://www.taskforce.org/
The Trachoma Atlas: www.trachomaatlas.org
International Coalition of Trachoma Control: www.trachomacoalition.org
Trachoma
Trachoma is an infectious disease causing a characteristic roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. Also called granular conjunctivitis and Egyptian ophthalmia, it is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world...
, the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. It was founded in 1998 in response to the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
’s (WHO) call to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020 (GET2020). ITI’s founding partners, Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation is a New York-based institution that currently focuses on providing opportunities for low-income youth in the United States...
, saw the need for an international nongovernmental organization dedicated to the elimination of blinding trachoma, an infectious eye disease. To achieve that goal, ITI collaborates with governmental and nongovernmental agencies at national and international levels to implement the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy for trachoma control (Surgery; Antibiotics—using Pfizer-donated Zithromax®; Facial cleanliness; and Environmental improvement).
ITI is a partner of the Alliance for the Global Elimination of Blinding Trachoma by 2020 (GET 2020). Building on trachoma elimination success in Morocco, ITI has been engaged in 19 developing countries in Africa and Asia. Trachoma is suspected to be endemic in 57 countries.
ITI envisions a world free of blinding trachoma. To that end, ITI manages the supply and distribution of the antibiotic Zithromax® donated by Pfizer. Zithromax® treats and prevents trachoma. ITI also helps countries and partners develop supply chain capacity where needed.
To date, Pfizer has donated more than 225 million Zithromax® treatments through ITI, reaching millions of people. ITI plans to be active in more than 42 countries by 2015.
What is Trachoma?
Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis
Chlamydia trachomatis
Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular human pathogen, is one of three bacterial species in the genus Chlamydia. C. trachomatis is a Gram-negative bacteria, therefore its cell wall components retain the counter-stain safranin and appear pink under a light microscope.The inclusion bodies...
, which spreads through contact with an infected person. Untreated, repeated trachoma infections make the eyelashes turn inward, scratching the cornea. This causes excruciating pain. Although children are the most susceptible to infection, the effects are often not felt until adulthood. Women, traditionally the caretakers of the home, are twice as likely as men to have the advanced stage of the disease, called trichiasis
Trichiasis
Trichiasis is a medical term for abnormally positioned eyelashes that grow back toward the eye, touching the cornea or conjunctiva. This can be caused by infection, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, congenital defects, eyelid agenesis and trauma such as burns or eyelid injury.Standard treatment...
.
Without intervention, trachoma keeps families shackled in a cycle of poverty, as the disease and its long-term effects are passed from one generation to the next.
Trachoma was once endemic in Europe and the United States. European immigrants to America had their eyelids flipped and examined upon arrival at Ellis Island in New York. Those diagnosed with active trachoma were returned to their home countries. Trachoma disappeared in Europe, even before antibiotics, because of improved living standards.
Today, about 41 million people, mostly women and children, have active trachoma infection. An estimated 8.2 million people have an advanced stage of the disease, in which the eyelashes turn inward and scrape the cornea, a condition called trichiasis. These people face the risk of visual impairment or blindness unless treated with a simple surgical procedure.
ITI’s Three Key Roles
ITI approaches its mission through three key roles:
1. Manage the supply and distribution of Zithromax® donated by Pfizer
2. Advocate at the global, regional, and country levels for the elimination of blinding trachoma
3. Collect data and manage knowledge on trachoma
Mass administration of Zithromax® is a component of the SAFE strategy, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The SAFE strategy includes:
• Surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
to correct advanced stages of the disease;
• Antibiotics to treat active infection, including Zithromax® donated by Pfizer;
• Facial cleanliness to reduce disease transmission;
• Environmental change to increase access to clean water and improved sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
.
ITI is a Program of the Task Force for Global Health
In April 2009, ITI joined forces with the Task Force for Global Health to leverage resources and significantly increase efforts to eliminate blinding trachoma. The Task Force and ITI are based in Decatur, Georgia, USA. ITI also has an office in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
The Task Force for Global Health is a not-for-profit, public health organization with a 27-year history of improving the lives of millions of people around the world. Working with a broad network of public and private sector partners, the Task Force for Global Health manages an array of initiatives focused on neglected tropical diseases, immunization and vaccines, and health systems strengthening.
How ITI Works
ITI accomplishes its work by:
· Collaborating with national Ministries of Health, partner organizations, governmental and nongovernmental agencies to support implementation of the “A” - antibiotics - component of SAFE. ITI manages the distribution of Pfizer-donated Zithromax® and ensures it gets where it needs to be on time.
· Promoting “Surgery” for trichiasis, the advanced stage of trachoma, which causes blindness, “Facial cleanliness” and “Environmental improvement” for a comprehensive, sustainable approach.
· Providing technical assistance to countries and partner organizations, including logistical assistance, trachoma control research, and monitoring and evaluation of trachoma control programs.
· Mobilizing resources for trachoma control programs.
· Integrating trachoma control into approaches to eliminate and control other neglected tropical diseases.
· Advocating for trachoma to be included in wider health and development agendas, including those that target improved access to clean water, sanitation, and education, and seek to improve the lives of women and children.
External links
International Trachoma Initiative: http://www.trachoma.org/The SAFE Strategy: http://www.trachoma.org/safe-strategy
GET2020: http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/trachoma/en/index.html
Task Force for Global Health: http://www.taskforce.org/
The Trachoma Atlas: www.trachomaatlas.org
International Coalition of Trachoma Control: www.trachomacoalition.org