Cynthia Ezegwu
The Kaduna State Government on Monday announced the successful elimination of trachoma, one of the leading causes of preventable blindness, marking a major milestone in public health and disease control.
Speaking at the official close-out ceremony of the Trachoma Trichiasis Intervention Programme in Kaduna, the Country Coordinator for Trachoma at Sightsavers, Dr. Teyil Wamyil Mshelia, described the feat as a collective victory achieved through years of collaboration among government agencies, partners, and local communities.
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“Kaduna holds a special place in Sightsavers’ history, being one of the first locations where we began operations over 70 years ago,” Mshelia said. “With the elimination of trachoma in Kaduna State, we celebrate one of our greatest public health victories.”
Between 2017 and 2023, over 500,000 residents received preventive treatments, while about 700 people benefited from corrective eye surgeries across the state. Mshelia attributed the success to strong community engagement, health worker training, and public awareness, adding that Kaduna now has a sustainability plan to continue trachoma-related services through static centres.
Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Aishatu Abubakar Sadiq, who represented the state government, hailed the achievement as a testament to “years of hard work, political will, and commitment to health equity.”
“Today marks not just the end of a project, but a milestone for Kaduna and Nigeria. We have come a long way from when trachoma was a major cause of blindness in our rural communities,” she said.
Trachoma, a bacterial infection of the eyes, is among the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) that thrive in poor sanitary conditions and areas lacking access to clean water.
According to Sadiq, the state began its fight against trachoma in 2013 after surveys revealed endemic cases in 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Kaduna, in compliance with national health guidelines, adopted the globally recognised SAFE Strategy—Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement—to stop disease transmission.
Through mass drug administration campaigns supported by Sightsavers and the Federal Ministry of Health, more than 558,000 residents were treated, while 683 individuals benefited from sight-restoring surgeries.
Dr. Sadiq commended Governor Uba Sani for prioritising healthcare and human development, as well as development partners for their technical and financial support in achieving trachoma elimination.
Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, Dr. Joy Shuaibu, also reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to expanding inclusive eye health services through ongoing initiatives like the SeeClear Nigeria project, which covers Kaduna, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.