Kaduna Eliminates Trachoma, Marks Major Public Health Milestone

A Collective Victory — Sightsavers

Speaking at the event, Dr Teyil Wamyil Mshelia, Country Coordinator for Trachoma with Sightsavers, described the achievement as “a collective victory” made possible through years of collaboration between the government, international partners, and local communities.

“With the elimination of trachoma in Kaduna State, we celebrate one of our greatest public health victories,” Mshelia said. “Significant progress is also being made toward eliminating onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis.”

According to her, between 2017 and 2023, over 500,000 residents received preventive treatment, while about 700 people benefited from sight-restoring eye surgeries across the state.

Mshelia noted that the success was driven by community engagement, public awareness, and intensive training of health workers and traditional leaders.

“We trained surgeons, ophthalmic nurses, and volunteers who went house-to-house identifying cases and linking patients to treatment centres. Kaduna now has a sustainability plan, with static centres continuing trachoma-related services,” she added.

She urged the government to sustain the gains through continued supply of medical consumables and subsidised treatment for rural communities, warning that “trachoma mostly affects the poor — those with limited access to clean water and sanitation.”

‘A Public Health Milestone’ — State Government

Representing the state government, Dr Aishatu Abubakar Sadiq, Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, hailed the achievement as a landmark in the state’s health history.

“Today marks not just the end of a project, but a public health milestone for our citizens and Nigeria at large,” Sadiq said.
“We have come a long way from when trachoma was a major cause of blindness in our rural communities. This success shows what commitment, collaboration and community action can achieve.”

She explained that the state’s trachoma elimination journey began in 2013, when baseline surveys identified 12 local government areas as endemic for the disease, including Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Ikara, Kudan, Kubau, Kauru, Kagarko, Lere, Makarfi, and Soba.

Implementation of the SAFE Strategy

Sadiq noted that Kaduna adopted the SAFE Strategy—Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement—recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Federal Ministry of Health.

With technical and financial support from Sightsavers International, the state implemented mass drug administration using Azithromycin tablets and Tetracycline eye ointment, reaching 558,761 residents and providing 683 surgeries in the 11 endemic LGAs.

She commended Governor Uba Sani for his “visionary leadership” and for prioritising healthcare under his New Kaduna Health Agenda, as well as partners including the Federal Ministry of Health and Sightsavers International for their support.

Background: Sightsavers’ Role and Broader Initiative

Sightsavers, a global non-governmental organisation focused on eliminating avoidable blindness, began operations in Nigeria over 70 years ago, with Kaduna serving as one of its earliest programme bases.

Earlier this year, in February 2025, Sightsavers’ Country Director, Dr Joy Shuaibu, announced the launch of the SeeClear Nigeria Inclusive Eye Health Programme, targeting Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States to strengthen eye-care services and expand access to quality treatment.

About Trachoma

Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes and is a leading cause of preventable blindness globally. It spreads through poor hygiene, limited access to clean water, and inadequate sanitation—conditions common in low-income rural communities.

Its elimination in Kaduna positions the state among the few subnational entities in Nigeria to have successfully controlled a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) through sustained public health intervention.