- Photo caption: A surgical day is being held to treat people affected by Trachomatous Trichiasis in San Juan Cancuc, Chiapas.
San Juan Cancuc, Chiapas, October 5, 2023 – Mexico eliminated trachoma as a public health problem in April 2017, thereby becoming in the first country in the region to obtain the World Health Organization (WHO) validation for this achievement. However, authorities continue to work on this issue and as a part its trachoma post-elimination activities, Mexico is part of the project “Improving the health of communities, women, and children by eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in the Americas”.
As part of this project, the first trachoma surgery day was held on September 27 - 29, 2023, at the Yashnail Health Center, in San Juan Cancuc, Chiapas, to treat patients with trachomatous trichiasis. This activity was organized by the Trachoma National Program’s team in Chiapas, in coordination with the National Center for Disease Control and Preventive Programs (CENAPRECE), and PAHO Mexico, and involved the participation of two surgeons certificated by PAHO to conduct corrective surgery procedures.
During this first day, four surgeries were performed on patients referred by the state brigades. The patients received post-surgical follow-up by surgeons for 24 hours and will be monitored after 7 and 14 days, as well receiving 3- and 6-month check-ups by the State Trachoma Program’s brigades.
To promote acceptance of the surgical procedure, this initiative ensures there are no barriers to access to healthcare facilities, bringing affected individuals closer to surgical services and providing them with up-to-date information about the procedure.
The implementation of these activities implies the reinforcement and advancement of PAHO/WHO's cooperation with Mexico’s Ministry of Health, making it possible to accelerate the work being done and alleviate the suffering of populations affected by trachoma, adapting actions with a focus on gender and ensuring they are culturally appropriate to the populations served.
About The Project
The initiative to improve the health of communities, women, and children by eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in the Region of the Americas, will be implemented from 2023 to 2028, and is part of the cooperation agreement between PAHO and the government of Canada.
This project is implemented by PAHO Mexico, in coordination with national health authorities, and coordinated by the Communicable Disease Prevention, Control, and Elimination Department at PAHO’s regional office.
About Trachoma
Trachoma is one of oldest infectious diseases known to humans. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, which is transmitted through contact with the eye secretions of infected people (shared use of towels and handkerchiefs, contact with fingers, etc.), as well by flies that help spread it.
In April 24, 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized that Mexico was free of trachoma as a public health problem, and the country thus become the first in the region of the Americas to reach this goal.
In order to reach this goal, the country documented the following health indicators:
- • A prevalence of follicular trachomatous inflammation or TF in children aged 1 to 9 years of less than 5%, sustained for at least two years, in the absence of mass administration of antibiotics in each formerly endemic district.
- • A prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis or TT unknown to the healthcare system in persons aged 15 years and older of at least 0.2%, in each formerly endemic district.
For this reason, and in order to maintain its elimination status, the country needs to implement continuous surveillance, which allows for the timely detection of the resurgence of the disease; as well as maintaining actions for the prevention and care of chronic forms of the disease.
