Three years closer to banishing trachoma in Zimbabwe

Will you become part of the journey of eliminating trachoma in Zimbabwe?

Ndumiso Ndlovu, an Ophthalmic nurse, provides trachoma treatment as part of mass drug administration in Zimbabwe

We're so close to elimination: we can't stop now

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A lot can happen in three years

It’s a historic moment when a country eliminates a disease like trachoma. In Zimbabwe, we are closer than ever to reaching that moment, and it can make you reflect on the progress that’s been made.

Today, trachoma is prevalent in only three of the country’s 63 districts, but just three years ago it was prevalent in 21 of them. That’s a big difference!

If you go back even three years before then, we didn’t know very much about the prominence of trachoma. We spent several years working with the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health to conduct surveys on trachoma across the country.

With this knowledge, we knew where to send treatments and which families needed help in preventing future infections. Your generous donations and the work of the local health team has helped to make this difference possible.

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A map graphic of Zimbabwe representing trachoma prevalence for each district in 2017

A map graphic of Zimbabwe representing trachoma prevalence for each district in 2020

A map graphic of Zimbabwe representing trachoma prevalence for each district in 2023

We can’t stop now

With that level of progress being made every three years, just imagine how close we are to finally eliminating trachoma in Zimbabwe. At this final push, the challenge is to bring our vital work to the most remote communities in Zimbabwe. When villages are harder to reach, our local teams need more support to provide them with treatment.

Sightsavers Zimbabwe country director Peter Bare has been working with us to help find and treat trachoma cases across the country. When asked, he couldn’t contain his excitement at the prospect of eliminating trachoma in his home country.

I started in 2019. It's been quite a long journey, but also exciting to see people being relieved of their pain.

Peter Bare, Sightsavers Zimbabwe

Sightsavers Zimbabwe country director Peter Bare stands next to his vehicle in the Binga district

Your gift today could help train extra healthcare workers and provide the antibiotics we’ll need to eliminate trachoma for these last three districts. It will be an amazing feeling to finally experience the historic moment that’s already been seen in Ghana, The Gambia and Malawi.

2021

Trachoma eliminated in The Gambia

2022

Trachoma eliminated in Malawi

It's up to you

Trachoma eliminated in Zimbabwe?