Preventing blindness
Trachoma is found in hot and dusty places such as Sokoto state in north western Nigeria, and is most common in areas with limited access to water or poor sanitation facilities. The disease can be countered by washing the hands and face with soap.
Unilever is collaborating with Sightsavers International and the Sokoto State Ministry of Health to support a trachoma control and prevention project. Unilever is using expertise gained from its Lifebuoy health education programme in India and east Africa to raise awareness of preventative measures such as improved hygiene practices and handwashing with soap.
In 2005, Unilever donated two million naira (US$15 000) to support Sightsavers' work distributing antibiotics and conducting restorative surgery for those suffering from advanced stages of the disease.
By the end of 2007 the project had trained nine nurses as eye-lid surgeons and 130 community health workers. Over six and a half thousand operations have been carried out and 120 000 people have been screened and received treatment. The education campaign has reached over 2.3 million people using radio, posters and public meeting places such as mosques to spread its message.
Trachoma
There are 590 million people at risk from trachoma and up to 150 million people infected worldwide. The disease is caused by a bacterial infection that irritates sufferers' eyes and causes an infectious discharge. The infection usually lasts for a month but is easily spread among family and community members by direct contact, contact with shared objects such as towels, or flies.
The infection causes scarring of the eye and surrounding tissue. The scarring builds up with repeat infections leading to a painful condition called Trichiasis when the eye lid turns inwards causing the eye lashes to scratch the eye, eventually leading to blindness.
