Project Details.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.2 million people are visually impaired because of trachoma. Out of the 2.2 million, 1.2 million are blind. An estimated 232 million people living in trachoma-endemic districts are at risk. 

More than 21 million people have active trachoma, and about 7.3 million require surgery for trachomatous trachealis. Blinding trachoma is endemic in many of the poorest and most remote areas of 51 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Australia, and the Middle East. Complying with WHO Trachoma Elimination Strategy, SAFE, eyes health partners in Pakistan—Sights Avers, CBM, and Fred Hollows Foundation—implemented the Global Trachoma Mapping Project in Pakistan since 2015 with the intention to implement the SAFE strategy wherever needed and declare Pakistan a trachoma-free country. Despite serious efforts from eye health partners in Pakistan, trachoma is not completely eliminated yet. The marginalized segment of society living in poverty, especially persons with disabilities (PWDs), women, and girls, are facing difficulties in accessing trachoma elimination services due to social, attitudinal, and cultural issues. 

The objective of the study was to conduct an analysis of the barriers faced by the communities (women, old people, and persons with disabilities) in accessing the Trachoma Elimination Programme. The methodology used consisted of a comprehensive desk review, key informant interviews with stakeholders, focus group discussions with communities, and in-depth interviews with the patients. 

A mixed research approach was used for this study, using primary and secondary data collection and analysis. Primary data was collected mainly by conducting key informant interviews (KIIs) with relevant stakeholders, while focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with marginalized communities (men, women, PWDs, and older people). 

Moreover, in-depth interviews were held with trachoma patients who had availed of surgery or treatment services or had refused to avail of the service. The information collected from the patients was used to draft case studies to reflect the real-time barriers these patients were facing.