Through traditional songs and dance, with some role plays, the residents of Liumena come together to raise awareness on blinding Trachoma, and to receive doses of the preventive/treatment drugs.
This is on the occasion to mark the official launch of the 2022 Trachoma Mass Administration (MDA) for Sikongo District held at Liumena Rural Health Centre, organized by Sikongo District Health Office. The MDA is being conducted from 6th to 10th June, 2022.
In attendance at the event officiated by the Sikongo District Council Chairperson Mr. Kennedy Simbotwe were heads of government departments, traditional and civic leaders as well as Lions Aid Zambia (LIAZ) and Ministry of Health Staff. Also in attendance were community members from within Liumena and surrounding communities.
Similar activities were also happening in six (6) other districts conducting MDAs across Western Province namely Kalabo, Kaoma, Nkeyema, Luampa, Sioma and Shangombo. Lions Aid in partnership with the Ministry of Health has continued to ensure that Trachoma
treatment drugs were made available and accessible to all during the MDA, through:
âś“ Continued emphasis on door-to-door approach in the delivery of drugs
âś“ Encouraging the selection of community volunteers from within the residents in various
communities to allow for easy identification of vulnerable groups during program delivery.
Over 728,000 people in the 7 districts, including Sikongo,have been targeted in the MDA in Western Province being implemented by the Ministry of Health, with support from the Task Force for Global Health.
There were high prevelence of active trachoma in the Province prior to the implementation of this program, but it is expected that with the delivery of the required numbers of MDAs, the World Health Organisation threshold of a prevelence of active trachoma below 5% will be met.
Vulnerable people in communities are identified through the use of Community Based Volunteers (CBVs) and community leaders.
LIAZ is grateful to the Government of the Republic of Zambia, represented by the Ministry of Health, for the ongoing support and cooperation at all levels. We were also grateful to our cooperating partners for their ongoing assistance.