Maji Moto ward in Narok South Sub County is set to benefit from a Mass Drug Administration exercise to eliminate Trachoma disease that is common among the pastoralist’s community.
The exercise sponsored by Operation Eyesight Universal in collaboration with the County Government of Narok is a free mass admission of Azithromycin drug to all residents between 17th to 21st March, 2025.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting held in a Narok hotel, the Operation Eyesight Universal Program Manager Edwin Simiyu said they will work with health personnel to administer the drug, where they will move house to house and in schools to ensure they attain 100 percent admission.
Statistics recorded in 2024 show that Narok South had a trachoma prevalence of 5.5 percent down from 15 percent in 2018.
He described Trachoma as an infectious eye disease that is capable of leading to blindness saying it is transmitted through direct contact with infected eye’s discharge, as well as through insects carrying the disease such as flies.
The infection spreads easily among children and from children to their mothers and also through contact with discharge from infected eyes by handkerchiefs or towels.
The symptoms of trachoma include eye redness, pain, discharge, irritation, photophobia and blurred vision.
He explained that repeated infections gradually cause the eyelid scarring which later causes in-turning of the eye-lashes toward the eyeball.
This irritates the eye causing severe pain and scarring and eventually irreversible blindness, which mostly strikes by the time the infected person reaches 40 years of age and above.
Trachoma is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the world and is prevented by promoting good sanitation and hygienic habits through provision of clean water sources.
Early treatment if the disease occurs is also important for prevention of complications and blindness.
Maji Moto residents were asked to volunteer themselves for the drug admission that will be given to all residents free of charge.
By Ann Salaton
