By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
According to the findings of the National Blindness and Low Vision Survey (2005-2007), trachoma represents 4.2% of all blindness and 0.8% of visual impairment in Nigeria.
The statistics was given by the Country Director, Sightsavers Nigeria, Dr Joy Shuaibu at the closure of tracoma and trichiasis project and handing over the transition plan to the Government of Bauchi State by Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS) in collaboration with Sightsavers Nigeria.
According to her, results of the 2014 prevalence survey in Bauchi state indicated that Tafawa Balewa and Shira LGAs have a prevalence of TF>5% and <10% which qualified them for one round of MDA and F&E intervention while 19 out of the 20 LGAs (except Dass) has TT>0.1% and thus, qualifies for Surgery intervention.
She added that, According to 2013-2014 TT prevalence survey, Bauchi state has an estimated backlog of 28,428 in which 23,742 need management in order to reach TT elimination threshold in the state.
The Country Director added that the Federal Ministry of Health mandated Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS) in December 2017 to implement TT activities in Bauchi state with support from Sightsavers
According to her, in December 2017, Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Project supported 3000 TT surgeries, 1000 per LGA in three (3) LGAs of Bauchi state namely; Zaki, Gamawa and Katagum.
She added that, from August 2018 to May 2020 Commonwealth project supported 8,250 surgeries in 11 LGAs (Zaki, Gamawa, Katagum, Itas/Gadau, Ningi, Jama’are, Shira, Giade, Misau, Darazo, and Dambam which was allocated to Mitosath.
Joy Shuaibu added that the objective of the activity of the trachoma elimination program was to have a population free of blindness due to trachoma by reducing the burden of trichiasis to less than 1 case per 1000 population.
She also said that it was done through the preferred practices and conducting quality surgeries and post- operative follow-up Attaining full geographic coverage in every LGA through house-to- house TT case search and documentation of every household entered by a trained case finder.
Also, implementation of TT activities involved advocacy to the relevant stakeholders, micro- planning meeting, sensitization, mobilization to the community leaders, and selection of case finders to be trained for house-to-house TT case-search.
In December 2017, Fifteen Ophthalmic Nurses and Thirty Health Extension Workers (CHEW) were selected by the state from different LGAs and trained by the National Trainers as TT surgeons and assistants in the state.
The training was conducted in the state capital covering a series of relevant topics and practical demonstrations with the use of headstart, afterwards live surgeries were conducted in the field.
She added that, “Under the accelerated project, Six additional ophthalmic Nurses and 12 Community Health Extension Workers were trained and certified by the National trainers to meet up with the volume of the work.”
In 2019, surgeons’ audit was conducted by the National trainers to assess the outcome of surgeries conducted by each surgeon in the state.
Accelerated project supported 5,463 surgeries in Eight LGAs (Ganjuwa, Warji, Ningi, Itas/Gadau, Darazo, Alkaleri, Kirfi and Bauchi) from (January 2020 – December 2020).
At the end of the year, the project achieved only 1012 as against 5,463 surgeries due to the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the suspension of all activities.
At the end of 2020, refresher training for TT surgeons was conducted to refresh their skills in surgery after the lockdown and to put them through how to conduct surgeries following COVID-19 guidelines.
Full geographic coverage was achieved in all the Nineteen TT endemic LGAs in the state Tracing of lost to outreach cases was conducted across all the LGAs where LTOs were recorded.
Joy Shuaibu explained that there were challenges and mitigation which included suspension of activities due to Covid-19 pandemic leading to the extension of period of implementation of TT activity as well as clash of activity with other implementing partners which however fostered open communication channels.
The achievements of the project included, the state currently having Fourteen active Trachoma Surgeons and Forty-two assistants while the project trained 17,912 community mobilizers, known as casefinders across 19 endemic LGAs of the state for house-from- house TT case search.
There was also Management of 13,507 TT cases across 509 TT endemic LGAs from December 2017- 2023 and the establishment of static centers across the state.
