This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Trachoma Gold Medal lecturer reports success of trachoma eradication strategy in Morocco
PARIS — Following implementation of the SAFE strategy and a system of epidemiologic surveillance, Morocco is close to achieving World Health Organization certification of elimination of blinding trachoma as a public health problem.
Abdelouahed Amraoui, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Casablanca, was awarded the Trachoma Gold Medal during the annual meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology.
Gabriel Coscas and Abdelouahed Amraoui
In introducing the award ceremony, Gabriel Coscas, MD, president of the International Organization against Trachoma, said that Morocco’s aggressive, well-planned strategy and exemplary results are “a model for other nations.” Morocco, he said, “also remains aware of the need for constant surveillance to avoid recrudescence of the disease.”
Before Morocco’s independence in 1955, trachoma was endemic in the country, with the highest prevalence in the southeast provinces, Amraoui said.
“Economic development and implementation of the SAFE (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, environmental improvements) strategy made the prevalence of trachoma decrease in those regions from 85% to 99% in 1962-1965 to less than 5% in 2005. Trachoma trichiasis was reduced to one case in 1,000 people. The consolidation phase 2006-2012 has further reduced the incidence to 0% to 0.2%,” he said.
Amraoui said that successful results have gone hand in hand with improved life conditions, increased availability of drinkable water, increased literacy and higher health spending. The commitment and cooperation of the national ministries of health, agriculture, environment and education and the active partnership of national and international foundations, WHO and Pfizer have been pivotal, he said.
Disclosure: No products or companies that would require financial disclosure are mentioned in this article.