Conclusions & Recommendations

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.

TEC congratulates the Neglected Tropical Disease Program of Côte d’Ivoire on the operations research in 2 evaluation units to better understand the trachoma epidemiology in that country, given high baseline prevalence in some districts and universally low or absent TT. TEC would like to invite the NTDP to present these data at TEC 25 should these data be available.

TEC encourages the MOH to develop a plan to use any remaining in-country Zithromax® inventory for ongoing TT surgeries, should the impact survey in Dinguiraye indicate that further MDA is not needed.

TEC recommends that ITI Management send a letter to the Niger national program:
- congratulating the national program managers for their work to address challenges identified during the 2019 program assessment
- commending the program for their adaptability and flexibility in the face of insecurity

TEC notes with concern the impact of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) budget cuts, resulting in the potential loss of over 14 million trachoma treatments and hundreds of thousands of trichiasis surgeries in the next year jeopardizing progress towards trachoma elimination in impacted areas.

TEC recognizes and appreciates the long-standing commitment of USAID in support of neglected tropical diseases, including the elimination objectives of trachoma.

TEC appreciates the work being done by the ICTC Executive Group and the member organizations to identify gaps as a result of the FCDO budget cuts and support advocacy efforts on behalf of the trachoma community. TEC also noted the work being done to forecast the future trachoma activity funding needs (cost analysis) in support of fundraising efforts.