Trachoma is one of 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness and 125 million people live in trachoma endemic areas globally (as of 2022).
Special populations refers to populations that are at risk of not being able to access or receive the full complement of trachoma services. This can be due to various factors, including social, ethnic, cultural, religious, and/or geographical reasons, or due to disabilities. These populations have been referred to as “statistically invisible” as disease prevalence among these populations is often obscured by the dominant population in population-based surveys. These populations include, but are not limited to, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), indigenous and nomadic populations.
This webinar will present experiences from a range of geographical regions, international and national stakeholders working to improve health equity and ensure special populations can access interventions, when and where they are needed. It will highlight the importance of people-centred approaches, including tailored strategies and policy initiatives to improve health equity and ensure no one is left behind. Ophthalmic Surgeon, and World Extreme Medicine faculty Pavandeep Singh will host presentations and panel discussion on Neglected Tropical Disease Day 2023.