Countess of Sussex hails Malawi on trachoma

United Kingdom royal family member Countess of Wessex, Sophie, has expressed optimism that Malawi will be vigilant against trachoma to avoid its return.

The countess, who is also the Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, said this yesterday in Salima during commemorations marking World Sight Day.

She said: “Today we come together to witness a moment in history for Malawi.  Today we say goodbye to blinding trachoma, on what is World Sight Day… I know you will continue to be vigilant so that this disease will not be able to take hold again.”

She partly attributed the elimination to the support from the now defunct Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, where Sophie served as the vice-patron.

“Malawi is the first country in Southern Africa to achieve elimination, and yours is the first country which received support from the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to have achieved elimination, a partnership which has been the perfect match.

It became the fourth country in Africa to achieve the milestone after Ghana, Gambia and Togo.

Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda has said the country will not relax despite attaining trachoma elimination status.

“In Malawi there are 180 000 people who are totally blind, with an additional 250 000 who cannot see properly. Every year about 18 000 people become blind due to cataract and yet 80 percent of this blindness and visual disability is preventable and curable,” she said.

The countess arrived in the country on Wednesday on a three day tour to celebrate the elimination of the disease, previously, one of the key contributors to blindness among the citizenry.

The World Health Organisation last month validated Malawi’s elimination of trachoma as a public health issue.

The World Sight Day is observed to raise awareness about eye health. It is held on the second Thursday of October and this year’s  theme is ‘Love your eyes’.