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Cover photo: Raul Vasquez/ORBIS International Design by Inís Communication – www.iniscommunication.com REPORT OF THE 17th MEETING OF THE WHO ALLIANCE FOR THE GLOBAL ELIMINATION OF BLINDING TRACHOMA GENEVA, 22–24 APRIL 2013 C ontents Acronyms and 3. Report of the abbreviations International Coalition iv for Trachoma 8 Control Opening of the meeting, nomination of officers, 4. Azithromycin donation: adoption of the agenda 1 report on donation and issues from 10 programmes 1. Report from WHO on GET2020 and NTD 2 5. Report from the Global Trachoma Mapping 12 2. Report from Project theTrachoma Scientific Informal Workshop 6 © Raul Vasquez/ORBIS International 6. Case-management Date and place of next challenges 14 meeting 33 7. WASH panel 16 Closure 33 8. Country focus: Annex 1. Scope and reports from purpose of the meeting countries in different 20 34 stages of SAFE implementation Annex 2. Agenda 35 9. Donors’ panel 30 Annex 3. List of participants 36 Conclusions and recommendations 32 REPORT OF THE 17TH MEETING OF THE WHO ALLIANCE FOR THE GLOBAL ELIMINATION OF BLINDING TRACHOMA GENEVA, 22–24 APRIL 2013 cronyms and A abbreviations BLTR bilamellar tarsal rotation DFID United Kingdom Department for International Development GTMP Global Trachoma Mapping Project ICTC International Coalition for Trachoma Control IEC information, education and communication ITI International Trachoma Initiative KAP knowledge, attitudes and practices MDA mass drug administration NTD neglected tropical diseases SAFE strategy Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement SS Sightsavers STAG-NTD WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases TF follicular trachomatous inflammation TI trachomatous inflammation TS trachomatous scarring TT trachomatous trichiasis UIG ultimate intervention goal USAID United States Agency for International Development iv Opening of the meeting, nomination of officers, adoption of the agenda The 17th Meeting of the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Blinding Trachoma by the Year 2020 (GET2020) took place at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland from 22 to 24 April 2013. The meeting was attended by 79 participants, of whom 42 were national coordinators for trachoma control programmes. See Annex 1 for the scope and purpose of the meeting, Annex 2 for the agenda, and Annex 3 for the list of participants. Dr Oleg Chestnov, Assistant Director-General, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, opened the meeting and welcomed participants. The goal of eliminating blinding trachoma by 2020 is an achievable one. Oman was verified as free of blinding trachoma earlier this year, and it is expected that Mexico, Morocco and Myanmar will be certfied by the end of 2013. The WHO 2008–2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases is a new tool which can contribute to control efforts. As Member States begin to consider the post–2015 health and development agenda, it is important to find ways in which trachoma control programmes can contribute to the continuing fight against poverty. Dr Abdou Amza (Niger) was elected Chairman. Ms Lisa Rotondo (RTI International) was elected Vice-Chairman and also acted as Rapporteur. The agenda was adopted (see Annex 2). 1 Report from 1 WHO on GET2020 and NTD there are currently no trachoma control activities GET2020 in the country concerned. International partners can help to identify the right people. Pfizer, the Dr Silvio Paolo Mariotti, Medical Officer and International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) and Sight- GET2020 Secretary, WHO Headquarters, Geneva, savers (SS) have supported attendance by all Switzerland concerned Member States, including those not A large number of participants applied to attend directly supported by donors. the 17th meeting: international partners were Work continues to integrate trachoma into the requested to reduce the size of their delegations overall WHO neglected tropical disease (NTD) in order to accommodate as many stakeholders control policy (Recommendation 4). The WHO as possible. Matters to be dealt with during the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for meeting include: funding available from various Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD) is sources; cooperation with the water and sanitation currently considering the draft single indicator sector at country level; and the challenges of the for trachoma, which reflects implementation of Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) and the full SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial case-management. The meeting will consider in cleanliness and Environmental improvement) particular the progress made towards elimination Professor Sheila West, a member of the GET2020 of trachoma in various countries. Alliance, has been appointed as a member of It is planned to hold the 18th meeting in a STAG-NTD. trachoma-endemic country: several offers to host The draft version of the formal guidance on the meeting have already been received, and other verification of elimination has been prepared interested countries are invited to contact the but still requires pilot testing (Recommenda- Secretariat. tion 6). Oman was the first country to undergo The Ad Hoc Working Group (M. Burton, S. Bush, verification, in November 2012, and has provided A. Elizondo, K. Kalua, S. Krishnan, L. Rotondo, useful feedback on the verification procedure. A. Weaver) has operated throughout the year via Mexico, Morocco and Myanmar are due to teleconferencing, e-mail and a dedicated blog. undergo the verification procedure later in 2013. Countries which are getting close to implemen- Action taken on the conclusions and recom- tation of their ultimate intervention goals (UIGs) mendations of the 16th meeting: ministries of are urged to liaise closely with the GET2020 Alliance health were invited to send a representative to Secretariat or their WHO Regional Office or future GET2020 meetings (Recommendation 2). Country Office. It is difficult to identify suitable representatives if 2 The Secretariat used the International Coalition The reports of the surveillance working group and for Trachoma Control (ICTC) report The end in the 3rd Global Scientific Meeting are available on sight: 2020 INSight as a starting point for the the GET2020 Web site (Recommendation 12). trachoma strategic plan for the NTD roadmap (Recommendation 7), in consultation with major The revision of the publication Trachoma control: international partners and other stakeholders. a guide for programme managers (Recommen- dation 13), although a priority, has been delayed ITI is in charge of the study on the safety of by the unavailability of the external consultant administration of azithromycin concurrently with originally commissioned for the work. The work other drugs used for preventive chemotherapy has been completed in-house, and the new (PCT) (Recommendation 8). A progress report was version is now ready for review by external presented at the Trachoma Scientific Informal consultants. Workshop, held immediately before the 17th GET2020 meeting. As part of the efforts to improve the quality and quantity of surgery for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) Most of the new trachoma data reporting forms (Recommendation 14), a new version of Trichiasis have been received back from countries (Recom- surgery for trachoma: the bilamellar tarsal rotation mendation 9). The data have been shared with ITI procedure (the “yellow manual”, WHO document for the purposes of joint analysis, and were made WHO/PBL/93.29) is currently being finalized by available to registered participants shortly before the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology. the 17th GET2020 meeting