Eighty percent of the population of South Sudan suffers from a blinding eye infection called Trachoma according to recent data from the Ministry of health.
Lucia William Kur is the focal person for Eye Care Service, Trachoma and OV in the national ministry of health. She told CRN today that trachoma is a blindness disease that became a major issue in South Sudan’s public health.
She said data from the ministry of health shows that the prevalence of trachoma in South Sudan reaches eighty percent.
Ms William added that it was very important to a multi-service approach including surgery, antibiotics distribution and public health education to curb the spread of trachoma.
She explained that the ministry needed a plan to make progress in the fight against trachoma.
Ms William said Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria and Upper Nile are states with high prevalence of trachoma.
She added that World Health Organisation is recommending a multi-service intervention providing surgery, antibiotics and cleanness for counties with high prevalence of trachoma cases.
She said South Sudan is in an emergency state concerning trachoma.
Ms William made these statements at the end of a three-day workshop to produce a draft on trachoma activities in South Sudan.