The 100 millionth dose of Zithromax, an antibiotic used to treat trachoma, is administered by Orbis International after 25 years of service in Ethiopia.
The non-profit organization dedicated to improving eye health worldwide announced that it had administered its 100 millionth dose of Zithromax.
Orbis began operations in Ethiopia in 1998 and, through a variety of initiatives and programs, has played a pivotal role in transforming the eye care sector in the country over the past 25 years.
One of their contributions was the first eye bank in all of sub-Saharan Africa, the Eye Bank of Ethiopia, which has greatly increased access to transplantable corneal tissue. This has decreased the number of people in the country suffering from corneal blindness.
They’ve also brought in treatments for retinal degeneration and glaucoma, which were previously unheard of in Ethiopia, and developed pediatric eye care to serve children all over the country.
Orbis reached a significant milestone in the fight against trachoma when it administered 100 million doses of Zithromax through a mass drug administration (MDA) program that provides medication to people in endemic areas regardless of whether they exhibit symptoms of infection.
The Organization has collaborated with the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders to implement the MDA program and expand access to eye care services in the SNNPR, South West Ethiopia, and Sidama regions, as well as the rest of the country.
