BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The free trachoma treatment rollout for residents in Honiara began on April 29 and will conclude on May 19, next week.
Speaking to this paper, Mavlyn Catherine Manetei, a registered nurse at Mbokonavera Clinic and trachoma team leader, said the campaign aims to cover the entire Honiara City Council (HCC) area.
Ms Manetei said the medical team is currently stationed at the HCC car park to make treatment more accessible for people living far from nearby communities.
“We station at the HCC car park to give accessibility to those who live far from the communities,” she said.
She added that while many schools have already been covered during the rollout, there are still a few schools and students yet to receive treatment.
Ms Manetei explained that adults are given four tablets as treatment, while children under 15 years old are treated according to their height using a measuring stick before receiving medication in suspension form.
“For children younger than six months old, she said health workers provide eye ointment treatment. Previously, we used Diclofenac eye ointment, but now people are becoming more familiar with Chloramphenicol eye drops,” she said.
Ms Manetei revealed that many children in communities have been suffering from prolonged red-eye infections without seeking proper medical attention.
“We see that clinic data is underreported until we go out into communities and discover many people with prolonged red eyes who are not accessing clinics,” she said.
She warns that failing to seek treatment could allow trachoma to continue spreading throughout communities.
According to Ms Manetei, trachoma is similar to common red-eye infections because it affects the eyelids, but it can only be confirmed through proper medical examination.
She explained that one sign of trachoma is when ordinary red-eye treatment does not work and the infection continues for weeks or even months.
“It can continue for two weeks or even a month and may eventually lead to blindness,” she said.
Ms Manetei also urges the public not to ignore symptoms of red-eye infections and to seek medical attention immediately.
“I appeal to everyone, as soon as you have red eyes, go to clinics to seek medical attention,” she said.
She further advises people whose condition do not improve after treatment to visit the Eye Centre at Kukum for proper diagnosis and medication.
“If the treatment does not respond, go to the Eye Centre at Kukum to get the correct medication and confirm whether it is normal red eye or trachoma,” she added.
Photo credit: John Houanihau
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