The Government of Nepal (GoN), represented by the Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav, formally celebrated Nepal’s historical achievement in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem with honorary guest, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of World Health Organisation (WHO), South East Asia.
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by bacteria bacterium chlamydia trachomatis and leads to blindness when left untreated. It is one of the world’s oldest infectious diseases and was the second leading cause of avoidable blindness in Nepal.
Dr. Singh handed “Elimination of Trachoma” Plaque to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and awarded a special citation to Professor Dr. Tirtha Prasad Mishra, Chairman of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangha (NNJS), for their vital contribution towards this historic achievement.
Three organisations - NNJS, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International and Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology and nine individuals who had significantly contributed to this achievement were also honored with letters of appreciation by the Deputy Prime Minster.
