Scope & purpose
The WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 was established in 1996, and its purpose ratified by the 1998 World Health Assembly Resolution 51.11 on the Global Elimination of Blinding Trachoma and the 2020 World Health Assembly Decision 73(33) on Neglected Tropical Diseases.
The purpose of the annual meeting of the Alliance is to monitor progress towards elimination of trachoma at global level, exchange information and experience on SAFE (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, environmental improvement) strategy implementation, review partnership opportunities at global, regional and national levels, and discuss obstacles and barriers to the achievements of the common goal, i.e., the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem by the year 2020.
This meeting is expected to provide these opportunities, and will be a highly anticipated return to a face-to-face format following several years’ delay forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will specifically allow discussion on:
- the global status of SAFE strategy implementation in endemic countries, and detailed review of regional and specific country situations, where appropriate;
- progress made in the mobilization of resources at global, regional and national levels;
- outcomes of recent technical and scientific meetings;
- activities of WHO and NGOs relevant at global level;
- integration and coordination with other health sector programmes; and
- cooperation with the WASH sector.
The expected outcomes of the meeting are:
- global monitoring of progress towards the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem;
- exchange of information on SAFE implementation at global and regional level;
- refinement of approaches for optimal impact, where possible;
- identification of opportunities for increased collaboration with efforts against other diseases; and
- report of the meeting to share progress towards WHA51.11 with all endemic countries and partners.