Stronger-SAFE: sharing project successes to reduce the effects of trachoma in Ethiopia

We’re delighted to share today two Stronger-SAFE films to reduce trachoma and blindness in Ethiopia.  

The films show the experiences of people involved in, and benefits of, the Stronger-SAFE trachoma trial, a five-year project run by an interdisciplinary team from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Ethiopian Ministry of Health, The Fred Hollows Foundation, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Monash University.  

Trachoma is a disease of the eye caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a public health problem in 44 countries and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people (WHO, 2022). 

The current elimination strategy recommended by the World Health Organization is summarised by the acronym “SAFE“, which means Surgery for advanced disease, Antibiotics to clear C. trachomatis infection, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement to reduce transmission. Stronger-SAFE aims to strengthen the effects of this strategy, in order to accelerate elimination of trachoma in endemic areas.  

Stronger-SAFE involves three phases: 

  1. Phase 1: Studying transmission in trachoma 
  1. Phase 2: Understanding and changing behaviour 
  1. Phase 3: Testing Novel Approaches to strengthen the ‘A’ and ‘F&E’ components in SAFE (Stronger-SAFE) 

The project will provide evidence towards improving strategies for eliminating trachoma, improving the lives and livelihoods of people in countries affected. These videos will be to further share knowledge within endemic areas and communicate the trial’s progress outside of them. 

Watch the film in English here: