SAFE: trachoma control

The SAFE strategy is endorsed by the World Health Organization as a way to control trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.

Trachoma is transmitted via contact with hands, clothing and even infected flies. The SAFE acronym describes the four methods that are used to control the disease:

• Surgery: to stop eyelashes from rubbing against the eyeball and helping to halt the cycle of repeated infection that can lead to blindness.
• Antibiotics: medication called Zithromax® is used to treat the trachoma infection and reduce the spread of the disease. The treatment is often distributed via mass drug administration, and is usually repeated annually for three or more years.
• Facial cleanliness: teaching local communities the importance of face washing, to prevent the infection being spread through contact with an infected person’s eyes or nose.
• Environmental improvements: to improve access to water and basic sanitation to reduce exposure and re-infection, and eliminate the conditions in which flies breed.

Watch the video below to learn more about the SAFE strategy.