Meet Esther Chishimba, a trained and certified Grader. Since 2018, Esther has participated in Trachoma Elimination Surveys. Esther works as an ophthalmic nurse on Chilubi Island. She is also an instructor at Chilubi College of Nursing. She enjoys volunteering in the community by providing eye care services to people in the surrounding area. She says she enjoys providing eye care in communities because that is where the services are most needed.
Esther goes on to say that her experience as an ophthalmic nurse has been positive because she has seen people’s lives improved because of services such as trachoma eye screening as well as assisting with referrals to health facilities for further management.
“I enjoy participating in trachoma surveys because I get to help a lot of vulnerable people. People’s lives are changing because of health education; they now understand what trachoma is, how it spreads, and how to prevent it,” Esther explains.
She regrets, that there are many myths about eye diseases in rural areas, because people have different beliefs about them.
“People in rural areas believe in witchcraft, and some believe there is no cure for trachoma, but I’ve noticed that this time, communities have more information on trachoma than they previously had, “Esther states.
“Despite the difficulties we face in screening communities due to their traditional beliefs, associating eye conditions to witchcraft, we continue to teach them the importance of having their eyes checked so that other eye conditions can be ruled out. We also operate on the eyelids of those with trachoma trichiasis and Entrop trichiasis so they can live a normal life, “Esther elaborates.
Esther goes on to say that, because of health education, communities have clean surroundings, toilets are clean and covered, and most people wash their hands.
She appeals to the Government to train more health assistants to help in the identification of people with trachoma, its complications and provide health education in communities in prevention and elimination of trachoma because they are the best people to give accurate information about the communities’ beliefs and their practices or lifestyles.