Niger Santé: preparation of the orientation file for the elimination of blinding trachoma – Niger Express

As of today, Niger has accomplished many efforts in the fight against trachoma.

Indeed, of the 62 endemic health districts at the start of the program, currently only 10 remain.

In view of the progress made, the Ministry of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs asked WHO – AFRO to support Niger in the preparation of the validation file for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. .

In other words, it will be a question of presenting the epidemiological situation and the process of preparing the dossier for the elimination of trachoma and formulating suggestions/recommendations.

During this workshop organized from February 20 to 22, 2023, the participants dwelt on the epidemiological situation of active trachoma in Niger, the criteria for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem, the content of the file, post-surveillance -Endemic trachoma whose objective is to avoid its re-emergence as a public health problem and finally the challenges of post-validation surveillance.

The participants in the orientation workshop for the elimination of blinding trachoma file in Niger recommended for this purpose:

To the Ministry of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs:

Set up a national technical committee for the preparation of the dossier for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Niger, assign qualified personnel to the level of the ten (10) Ophthalmological Units already equipped with materials.

To the Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation and Others: to continue advocacy in favor of the NCE component to consolidate the achievements and to the PNSO to develop a provisional timetable for the preparation of the dossier as well as the monitoring plan for elimination of trachoma in Niger.

To start writing the file (relate in the file the history of the implementation of all the components of the SAFE strategy), organize a national workshop to update the data and organize a workshop to present the first draft of the file of elimination.

They also recommended obtaining information on the state of progress of the trachoma elimination file during the annual trachoma reviews, organizing semi-annual meetings of the national committee for the follow-up of the plan of the file, inquiring about the progress in developing post-validation surveillance measures with countries that have already validated the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem and using innovative social mobilization approaches for trichiasis surgery.

To DRSPs and Districts; participants recommended: documentation, and archiving and transmission of data to the National Eye Care Program and organizing trachoma indicator review meetings (FP / Regional SPIS Coordinators) on the DHIS2 platform.

With regard to TFPs, they ask them to continue financing the N CE component to consolidate the achievements even after validation of the file; organize a trachoma data update workshop; identify resource persons and set up the committee of experts; to continue the technical and financial support to the PNSO and to accompany it until the validation of the dossier for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem.

Source PNSO/ Dansounsou Hadiza