Kaduna State has officially eliminated trachoma — a leading cause of preventable blindness — as a public health problem, marking a major victory in Nigeria’s fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
At a closeout ceremony in Kaduna, Dr. Teyil Wamyil Mshelia, Country Coordinator for Trachoma at Sightsavers, hailed the feat as a “collective victory achieved through years of partnership among government, communities, and development agencies.”
She said Kaduna, one of the first places where Sightsavers began work over 70 years ago, has now achieved one of its “greatest public health victories.”
Between 2017 and 2023, more than 500,000 people received preventive treatment and about 700 underwent corrective surgeries, she added.
“We trained surgeons, ophthalmic nurses, and community volunteers who identified and referred patients house to house,” Dr. Mshelia said.
She urged the state to sustain gains through free or subsidized services for poor and rural residents.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Aishatu Abubakar Sadiq, described the milestone as “proof of Kaduna’s commitment to disease prevention.”
She said trachoma interventions began in 2013, revealing Igabi LGA as endemic for Trachoma Follicular, while 11 LGAs, including Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Ikara, Kudan, Kubau, Kauru, Kagarko, Lere, Makarfi, and Soba, were endemic for Trachoma Trichiasis.
SAFE strategy yields results
Under the SAFE Strategy — Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial Cleanliness, and Environmental Improvement — Kaduna reached 558,761 residents with treatment and performed 683 corrective surgeries across endemic LGAs.
The state also trained 10 ophthalmic nurses as TT surgeons, built 122 boreholes in affected areas, and deployed 10,000 community volunteers for case detection.
“These milestones reflect the shared commitment of government, partners, and communities to making trachoma history,” Dr. Sadiq said.
She commended Governor Uba Sani for investing in health and lauded the Federal Ministry of Health and Sightsavers International for their support.
Dr. Sadiq called for continued surveillance, hygiene promotion, and public sensitization to maintain progress and eliminate other NTDs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Kaduna’s elimination status, placing the state among global leaders in tackling trachoma and other neglected diseases.
