Conclusions & Recommendations

TEC recognizes that DRC has the second highest population at-risk of trachoma in the world and is at risk of losing momentum of the existing progress, putting more people at risk of trachoma if adequate funding and technical support cannot be identified.

TEC encourages the MOH to access available funding from ESPEN for trachoma activities where there are gaps and encourages other donors to further support the MOH in achieving elimination.

TEC recommends that the MOH and partners consider collecting infection data in districts with TF1-9 just above 5% at TIS and TSS in several districts. This may be a sign of lagging TF rather than a need for additional MDA or recrudescence, and infection data would provide a more complete picture of trachoma in those districts.

TEC notes the security challenges in Cabo Delgado and the threat they pose to elimination in Mozambique. TEC recommends that ITI work with countries to document population disruptions and the potential impact of IDPs/refugees on progress towards elimination, and to propose ways to assist national decision-making on how to account for changing population numbers for future MDAs and/or surveys.

TEC recognizes the hardship placed on Zambia’s trachoma program from the budget cuts by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), leaving a funding gap for 2021 interventions (including MDA in three districts, trachoma surveillance surveys in 17 districts, and one trachoma impact survey) and 2022 interventions (MDA in seven districts and eight trachoma impact surveys).

TEC recommends that ITI follow up to better understand the situation in refugee camps in the Lake Chad Basin and whether addressing these populations is included in the national program’s plans.

TEC noted with concern that funding & technical assistance is urgently needed to support the trachoma program in Central African Republic. TEC also recognized the need to develop a broader funding and partner base if elimination in CAR is to be achieved.

Additionally, prevalence data in Basse-Kotto are ‘stale’, and, if funding can be identified, new survey data would be informative before any further MDAs are considered.

TEC recommends that ITI have a discussion with the resident WR, WHO-HQ, and the national program to develop a consensus of how to best move forward with elimination efforts.

TEC notes with concern that very few trichiasis surgeries have been conducted to date and encourages donors to ensure they are supporting the full SAFE strategy.