Trachoma

That fall, a Philadelphia surgeon operated on her eyelid to correct a malformation caused by trachoma, a highly contagious eye infection that was epidemic throughout the boarding school system and a major public health concern.

We head to Kenya where trachoma, a preventable disease that can cause blindness, is prevalent.

Morocco's efforts to fight trachoma are paying off. In the hardest-hit province of Zagora, for example, active trachoma rates have fallen from more than 50 percent in 1997 to less than four percent today. Morocco's trachoma elimination program director, Dr. Youssef Chami, points out that the country could not have done it without the solid support of the government.

Trachoma strikes hardest in remote places like these. Water for washing faces is scarce, and medical care is far away. Trachoma begins as a bacterial eye infection. If left untreated, the infection scars the eyelid, turning the eyelashes inward. The lashes rub painfully up against the eyeball with every blink. Over time, the rubbing scars the cornea, clouding vision and leading to blindness.

Washing faces cuts the risk of trachoma. And water to flush solid wastes keeps away flies that can spread the disease. Four years ago, only 14 percent of Ouarzazate residents had access to fresh water. Now, three-quarters do.

The WHO would like to see that same commitment to eliminate the disease in 45 other trachoma-stricken countries. But in many of these countries, trachoma will have to get in line behind other pressing health issues like AIDS, tuberculosis, and meningitis. Morocco has more money to spend on trachoma than many poorer developing countries. And the disease was already on its way out when the current campaign began in 1997.