Countess of Wessex hails trachoma elimination in The Gambia

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has congratulated key representatives who have helped The Gambia to eliminate blinding trachoma.

In April 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that The Gambia had eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

As royal patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), of which Sightsavers is a member, the Countess joined a video call with a panel of representatives to discuss The Gambia’s journey to elimination.

The Countess said: “In our lifetime, to see something that has destroyed so many lives actually being beaten is wonderful.

“This success is firstly about collaboration, but each success is a home-grown success from each individual country. Yes, the international community came together but it had to rely on each country to make it their own. Without the commitment form the top down and the bottom up none of this would have come about.

“We stand in awe of what has been achieved. You’re to be congratulated, you’ve proven what can be done when people come together with one mission and one direction and you’ve achieved it.”

The Gambia vice-president Dr Isatou Touray also took part in the call. She said: “Today, we are very proud to be associated with this success and to be one of the countries that is second to Ghana, to be able to eliminate this [disease]. I want to give credit to the healthcare providers who have taken their time to do the advocacy and engaging the communities in the practical aspects needed to eliminate this disease.”

Reflecting on The Queen’s support for tackling avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth, the Countess said: “Her Majesty is so supportive of this kind of work. She has genuinely taken a personal interest in that work. She loves collaboration; she loves it when people get together and make things happen.”

Also on the call were Sightsavers CEO Caroline Harper, WHO chief scientist for neglected tropical diseases Dr Anthony Solomon, Pfizer Foundation president Caroline Roan, national eye health programme manager for The Gambia Ministry of Health Sarjo Kanyi, Sightsavers country director for The Gambia Balla Musa Joof, professor of communicable diseases Dr David Mabe from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Sightsavers global trachoma lead Dr Agatha Aboe.