Dr Akwasi Twumasi, Northern Regional Deputy Director of Health Services on Wednesday, advised all stakeholders and
collaborators to work tirelessly to ensure total elimination of Trachoma Blindness from the society.
He said trachoma was a disease, which could easily be tackled if health personnel working in the Trachoma Control Programme could be up and doing and that the Ghana Health Service would continue with its partners to stem the situation in the two endemic regions of the Northern and Upper West.
Dr Twumasi said this when he addressed participants at the opening of a three-day 4th annual Trachoma Review Meeting in Tamale on Wednesday.
The meeting was aimed at finding lasting means of eliminating trachoma blindness from the society, and to see the constraints on the health sector in
the fight to curb the pandemic in the two regions.
The aim was also to register and operate 2100 Trachoma cases in the two regions, provide advocacy for the provision of water and sanitary facilities and
to sustain commitment of GHS and the MOH in global initiative for the elimination of trachoma blindness as part of elimination of avoidable blindness.
Some 72 participants, mainly district directors of health from the Northern and Upper East regions as well as some from the Greater Accra Region and representatives from the Carter Centre, UNICEF, WHO, Water Aid, Swiss Red Cross, World Vision, Global 2000 and International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) are
attending the meeting.
Dr Dan Yayemeh, National Programme Manager of the Trachoma Control Programme, gave an overview of the situation currently prevailing in the regions and indicated that, the country had made strides in the fight to curb trachoma and that, much still was needed to be done.
He said the only obstacle that may hinder the personnel was the inability of some people to report for treatment and that his outfit was committed in
ensuring that much education on facial cleanliness and Environmental Improvement, which could help address the situation.
He commended the Carter Centre and ITI for the continuous assistance, which helped to reduce the rate of infection and urged them not to relent in their attempts to help curb the situation.