Remarkable achievements toward trachoma eradication in Algeria honored with Golden Medal of Trachoma

PARIS — Amar Ailem, MD, a professor at Algiers University, Algeria, was awarded this year's Golden Medal of Trachoma by the International Organization against Trachoma.

In an interview with Ocular Surgery News during the meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology, he said that immense progress has been made in the country toward the eradication of the disease. Before Algeria achieved independence in 1962, active trachoma affected 30% of the population. Three million out of the 9 million people in the population were affected. The newly established government made a huge effort in promoting campaigns, following the WHO strategy of those days.

“It was a major step forward. In the south of the country, in the Sahara regions, more than 90% of the population had trachoma. This is an area where trachoma still persists, but eradication strategies have enormously contributed to limit the frequency and severity of the disease also in those areas. We are dealing now with mainly non-blinding trachoma, and current prevalence is down to 6.9%,” Ailem said.

Such a great achievement went hand in hand with the socioeconomic development of Algeria and strengthened human resources capacities.

“Before 1962, there were only 12 ophthalmologists in the country. Now we are 1,259, serving a population which has grown to nearly 40 million. A task force of 490 physicians, 106 ophthalmologists and 433 between psychologists and paramedical personnel is fighting the difficult geographic and climatic conditions, and the lack of water, of the Sahara regions. Trachoma detection, prevention and treatment campaigns are organized in all the 2,280 schools of the area,” Ailem said.

In more than 50% of villages of the south, trachoma is down to 0%. - by Michela Cimberle

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