What is Trachoma?
Trachoma is one of the oldest known infectious diseases. A bacterial disease, trachoma is spread easily through contact with infected individuals. After years of repeated infection, the eyelid turns inward and the lashes rub on the eyeball, scarring the cornea, resulting in a slow and painful process toward complete blindness.
An Interview with Kelly Callahan
Lions are very active in the fight against trachoma. Lions Clubs International Foundation’s (LCIF) SightFirst program has awarded more than US$29 million to The Carter Center, a leader in combating trachoma for 23 projects in in Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, and Sudan. Ethiopia alone has received more than US$21 million in funding since it is the most endemic country in the world for the disease.
Kelly Callahan is director of the Carter Center’s Trachoma Control Program. She also is a Lion. In this interview, Callahan explains how she got involved in humanitarian work, her thoughts on the progress of the fight against trachoma thus far, and how it has impacted her.
Lion Kelly Callahan speaks with a woman in Ethiopia about the pain caused by trachoma.
The Future for Mali and Niger
The SAFE strategy has been championed by Lions and the Carter Center in both Mali and Niger since 1999. As a direct result of surgeries, antibiotic administration, health education training and environmental improvements, both countries are on track to eliminate blinding trachoma by the year 2020.
