Mitú, Vaupés, 8 October 2024 (PAHO/WHO) – From September 21 to 26, 2024, a surgical campaign held in Mitú, the capital of Vaupés, in eastern Colombia, provided treatment for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) to 21 people from remote communities in Vaupés, Guaviare, and Amazonas.
TT is the advanced stage of trachoma, a disease that, if left untreated, can lead to visual impairment or even blindness. This surgical campaign, organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, was supported by the Initiative for the Elimination of Trachoma in the Americas, a strategic partnership between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Government of Canada.
Providing medical care to these communities involved transporting professional teams by air and river, while coordinating efforts among the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Vaupés Governor’s Office, the Health Departments of Vaupés and Amazonas, the Nueva EPS and Mallamas Health Providers, the San Antonio de Mitú Hospital, and specialists from the Central Military Hospital, San Ignacio Hospital, Fundación Cardioinfantil, La Samaritana Hospital, Fundonal, and the National Open and Distance University (UNAD).
Surgical Campaign Results
During the campaign, 39 patients received comprehensive care, including general medical services and ophthalmology consultations. A total of 28 eye surgeries were performed, 21 of which were for patients with TT, while the remaining 7 addressed other ocular conditions.
Specialized Support and an Intercultural Approach
The campaign featured three expert trachoma surgeons from Colombia: Luis Alberto Ruiz Robles, Mauricio Zea Durán, and Martha Rocío González, who led the surgical interventions. Comprehensive care was provided not only to the patients but also to their companions, who received general medical assessments and health promotion and prevention services.
The activities were conducted with an intercultural and gender-sensitive approach. To prepare for the campaign and during its course, intercultural dialogues and interactive educational activities were carried out to promote facial and hand hygiene, encourage acceptance of the surgeries, and prevent the disease.
Know more about it in the following videos:
Colombia Strengthens Its Commitment to Eliminating Trachoma and Preventing Blindness
A Step Forward in the Elimination of Trachoma in Colombia's Remote Communities
