Eliminating Trachoma

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This practical course is for everyone involved, or interested in, delivering health services to eliminate blinding trachoma. It may be of interest to those working in or studying medicine, and will be of special use to those working in neglected tropical diseases (NTD), public health or ophthalmology. Content is focused on the action that needs to take place at a local community level. You can use the hashtag #FLtrachoma to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

• 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