Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in India

Why in News:

• According to the World Health Organization, trachoma has been eliminated as a public health problem in India.

Trachoma:

• It is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes.
• It is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.
• It spreads through contact with eye, eyelid, nose or throat secretions of infected people.
• The World Health Organization has declared trachoma as a neglected tropical disease.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD):

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) are a diverse group of tropical infectious diseases.
• They are commonly found in low-income populations in developing regions such as Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• They are transmitted by a wide range of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasites (helminths).
• Dengue, rabies, trachoma, endemic treponematoses (yaws), leprosy (Hansen's disease) etc. are the major diseases among these.
• Globally, 1 in every 5 people is affected by NTD disease.
• Despite the high number of patients suffering from neglected tropical diseases, there is a lack of essential facilities related to them.