Guinea Bissau Eye care

Overarching objective : The project will contribute to the elimination of blinding trachoma in Guinea Bissau through: i) strengthening human resources to support trichiasis surgery (S) ii) ensuring access to antibiotics (A), iii) supporting facial cleanliness initiatives (F) iv) Support environmental improvements, through building latrines, restoring water points and raising awareness (E). Key activities : The project will implement the following key activities: 1. Provide training/retraining of 60 lid/trichiasis surgeons which will strengthen capacity and reduce the backlog of trichiasis surgeries 2. Contribute to reducing the backlog of trichiasis surgeries by at least 30% by the end of 2015 thus a minimum of 4500 surgeries performed through the provision of required equipment to newly trained lid surgeons 3. Provide mass treatment of Azithromycin tablets/tetracycline in regions with more than 10% prevalence of active trachoma (at least 85% of eligible population) 4. Promote community awareness on the importance of environmental sanitation in trachoma control through mass campaigns using village volunteers. 5. Ensure the availability of safe water (in the most endemic communities which do not have access to safe water) by the construction / rehabilitation of 45 water points. 6. Construct 45 latrines in poor areas of the country to improve sanitation in the poorest parts of the target regions Change it aims to bring about : The project aims to bring about improvement of the eye health of the population in Guinea Bissau and thus contribute to the socio economic wellbeing of the country.