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TRACHOMA PROJECT Introduction Helen Killer International is an International (HKI) is an international non-governmental organization which is working in collaboration with Tanzania Institute of Education on Trachoma disease. Tanzania Institute of Education is a parastatal organization under the Ministry of Educationand vocation training responsible for ensuring quality of education at pre-primary, prmary, secondary and teacher training levels. Trachoma is the leading dangerous infectious disease which cause of preventable blindness in the world. It is caused by a bacterium prevalent in poor communities with limited access to adequate sanitation and clean water. This painful infection of the eye leads to a build-up of scar tissue, which forces the eyelid to curl inward. With each blink, the eyelashes rake the cornea, a painful condition called trichiasis. Vision is diminished and - if left untreated - results in permanent blindness. The victim of trachoma eventually blinks herself blind. Its mission is to save the sight and lives of the most endemic trachoma areas. Tanzania is one of the 55 countries where trachoma is endemic with 75% of the afflicted in Africa , trachoma has left 8 million people irreversibly blind and another 84 million are in need of treatment. Women and children aged 1-9 are most affected, and women are three times more likely to be blinded by trachoma than men. HKI and TIE have worked together since 2003 to develop a competency based trachoma curriculum for primary schools. The integration of trachoma in the overall national primary curriculum represents a great achievement as it means all school aged children at risk of the disease will have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to prevent the disease. It also increases the knowledge base and skills to communities and particularly the school children's families and out of school peers. Curriculum, however, is only one component within an education system and learning process. It is also necessary to ensure the teachers have the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively teach the trachoma curriculum HKI and TIE intends to roll-out the trachoma curriculum in 15 of the most trachoma endemic districts in Tanzania under Hilton Curriculum Project, hereinafter to as the project. HKI and TIE cooperate in implementing the project. Since trachoma is spread through a cycle of infection and re-infection, often from mother to child and back again, its long-term elimination as a public health threat is dependent on preventive measures. HKI implements the World Health Organization's S.A.F.E. ( S urgery - A ntibiotics - F ace cleanliness - E nvironment improvements) strategy through innovative community-based programs, such as enhanced school health, community education, and the training of health workers to perform trichiasis surgery. Yet, the simple surgical procedure to correct trichiasis has a success rate of 80%, and can cost as little as $10 per person. For those in the early stages of trachoma, a course of tetracycline ointment or an oral dose of the medication Zithromax will stop the infection. Goal The overall goal of the project is to contribute to Tanzania 's efforts to eliminate trachoma as blinding diseases by the year 2020. Objective The objective of the project is to ensure that all school children living in trachoma prevalence districts of Tanzania receive effective instructions in trachoma and the behaviors essential to prevent the disease. Expected results from the project
Project area The project is implemented in most trachoma endemic districts in Tanzania including Tunduru, Monduli, Kiteto, Lindi, Iramba, Igunga, Singida, Simanjiro, Dodoma , Masasi, Nachingwea, Handeni, Kondoa, Manyoni, Kilosa districts. Activities of the project
In 2007/2008 the following activities were conducted as shown in the table below: Table: Implementation of Trachoma Activities 2007/8
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About TIE
