Posted on Jul 25, 2017
 
What is Trachoma?  We used to call trachoma sandy blight (the eyes feel gritty, as if full of sand).
 
Evidently the  world’s prime cause of infectious blindness, it is due to  the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.  We heard from guest speaker Robert McGuirk that it  leads to eyelid swelling and eventual scarring which in turn causes the eyelashes to turn inward and scratch the eye. Untreated this scratching clouds the cornea and the person incurs irreversible blindness.
 
Robert is a Melbourne Rotarian (VP) and chair of their Indigenous Committee.  A trained lawyer who in recent times has turned to technology with his own company in the IT game (and especially security), he noted how in search of a worthwhile project he was inspired by the WHO goal  to eliminate trachoma by 2020.  As with such projects one needs a long term champion(s) to sustain efforts and Robert is clearly heavily involved.   Oddly Australia is unique in that it is the only developed country with the problem, it being prevalent in our dryer inland areas among indigenous citizens.  The dry conditions and lacking basic hygienic practices, such as regular face washing allow the condition to develop.
 
A joint Australian project embraces this 2020-21 goal for Australia too.  Many organisations including governments, commerce, community bodies and Rotary  interact (see website www.endtrachoma2020.org.au ). Robert explained the structure of the project and how key in addition to the provision of specialist optometry skill, funding seeks to establish ongoing relationships with local indigenous communities and maintain efforts to encourage impacted communities to for instance ensure clean water supplies and good hygiene.