- Platform
- FutureLearn
- Provider
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Effort
- 4 hours/week
- Length
- 5 weeks
- Language
- English
- Credentials
- Paid Certificate Available
- Course Link
Overview
Based on 2018 data, it is estimated that 150+ million people are at risk of trachoma in 40+ endemic countries. This represents significant progress made in recent years, an almost 25% reduction in the number of people at risk. The action towards eliminating trachoma taken is on the right path but it needs to be reach everyone! Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease. It occurs in some of the poorest populations with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, and is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. At present, we have a unique opportunity to eliminate this disease.
This course aims to inform and support the personnel implementing and managing trachoma programmes at a district and community level. Additionally, the course will provide insights from stakeholders, experts and professionals as they share successes and resolve challenges to achieve elimination of trachoma.
Understand trachoma as a disease
This course will teach you to evaluate the natural history, clinical signs, and grading of trachoma in individuals, and map the burden of disease at a community level.
Explore the epidemiology of trachoma
We will investigate and provide guidance on how epidemiological data informs the selection of interventions at local and national level, and how it informs decision making on the path to eradicating the disease.
Discover how trachoma elimination strategies are implemented
Appropriate interventions to eliminate trachoma are encapsulated by the acronym ‘SAFE’, which represents surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. We will consider what it takes to deliver the SAFE strategy in trachoma-endemic regions with agreed best practices, and how to best monitor and evaluate these activities for improved effectiveness.
Throughout the course we will use a variety of learning tools and provide opportunities to interact and learn through online conversations with peers and educators from across the world. A wide range of experts will be taking part, including:
Taught by
Dr Daksha Patel and Allen Foster
Based on 2018 data, it is estimated that 150+ million people are at risk of trachoma in 40+ endemic countries. This represents significant progress made in recent years, an almost 25% reduction in the number of people at risk. The action towards eliminating trachoma taken is on the right path but it needs to be reach everyone! Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease. It occurs in some of the poorest populations with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, and is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. At present, we have a unique opportunity to eliminate this disease.
This course aims to inform and support the personnel implementing and managing trachoma programmes at a district and community level. Additionally, the course will provide insights from stakeholders, experts and professionals as they share successes and resolve challenges to achieve elimination of trachoma.
Understand trachoma as a disease
This course will teach you to evaluate the natural history, clinical signs, and grading of trachoma in individuals, and map the burden of disease at a community level.
Explore the epidemiology of trachoma
We will investigate and provide guidance on how epidemiological data informs the selection of interventions at local and national level, and how it informs decision making on the path to eradicating the disease.
Discover how trachoma elimination strategies are implemented
Appropriate interventions to eliminate trachoma are encapsulated by the acronym ‘SAFE’, which represents surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. We will consider what it takes to deliver the SAFE strategy in trachoma-endemic regions with agreed best practices, and how to best monitor and evaluate these activities for improved effectiveness.
Throughout the course we will use a variety of learning tools and provide opportunities to interact and learn through online conversations with peers and educators from across the world. A wide range of experts will be taking part, including:
- Staff from the World Health Organization
- Academics from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Stakeholders from NGOs
- Experts from water, sanitation and hygiene, and
- People active at the community level.
What topics will you cover?
- Natural history, clinical signs and grading of trachoma
- Evidence from global mapping of trachoma
- Planning and coordination of trachoma mapping and control activities at community, district, national and global levels
- Development of a Trachoma Action Plan
- Public health approach for the control of trachoma
- How epidemiological data provides guidance for interventions and setting local targets
- Practical approaches for the four elements of the SAFE strategy to control trachoma: surgery, mass distribution of antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement
- S: strategies for community mobilisation, preparing patients, selecting surgical methods, managing post-surgical trichiasis and monitoring outcomes and outputs towards elimination
- A: selection of antibiotics, distribution pathways, microplanning local campaigns, addressing barriers and managing coverage
- F&E: Understanding influences on behaviour, situation analysis for F&E, assessing sanitation hardware requirements, identifying and engaging with appropriate stakeholders for water, sanitation and hygiene activities
- Assessing the validation process for trachoma elimination
- Monitoring and evaluation indicators of SAFE interventions for impact and surveillance surveys
- Completion of the WHO dossier to validate the elimination of trachoma at national level
Taught by
Dr Daksha Patel and Allen Foster