BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Honiara City Council Health Division’s free trachoma treatment campaign in communities around Honiara will conclude today.
The mass trachoma drug administration was implemented by Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), with support from the Australian Government through AUSAID, to help prevent the spread of trachoma in Honiara.
The distribution of “Azithromycin” the drug to combat trachoma is not random but a response to an outbreak of trachoma last month.
Health teams from the Mbokona Trachoma Mobile Programme under the Honiara City Council Health Division have been visiting communities to distribute medicine and raise awareness on the importance of early treatment and prevention.
In an interview with Island Sun yesterday, Joylin Hogamana and Noresh Nosse said communities covered so far include Titinge, Taba’a, Stone Field, Telekom, the Central Finance area, Mbokona School, Betanii School, the Geology area, Lengakiki, Mbuburu and the Town Ground area.
They said adults usually take four tablets as part of the treatment, while children aged six years and below are given eye ointment cream. Children aged seven years and above are provided with azithromycin suspension medicine.
Adults have been advised to take the medicine after meals, preferably after dinner.
People with heart disease are advised not to take the medicine and people with yaws or pneumonia can take the medicine.
The nurses said the Mbokona Clinic currently operates three teams, with one stationed at the clinic while the other two travel to communities for medicine distribution.
According to Hogamana and Nosse, prevention remains important even for people who are not infected, stressing that taking the medicine can help stop the spread of trachoma.
Symptoms of trachoma include inflammation under the eyelid, itchiness and red eyes.
The two nurses visited Island Sun office to distribute the medicine yesterday.
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