The SAFE strategy for trachoma control: poised for rapid scale-up

Abstract

In 1998, all member states of the United Nations signed up for the Global Alliance for the Elimination of Blinding Trachoma by 2020 (GET 2020) through World Health Assembly resolution 51.1. This called on member states to complete the mapping of blinding trachoma in the remaining endemic areas and implement the SAFE strategy for trachoma control. Compiled data held by the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that, by 2010, as many as 1,090 districts in 36 of the estimated 57 trachoma endemic countries had been mapped. Moreover, the full SAFE strategy, including mass drug administration with oral azithromycin (Zithromax®) donated by Pfizer, was underway in 347 districts.

Keywords

• trachoma