Trachoma is known to be a significant cause of blindness in Australia. It was brought into the public spotlight 30 years ago by Fred Hollows. Unfortunately public interest has waned and so have efforts to combat this terrible and painful blinding disease. The World Health Organization has set the goal of eliminating the disease by 2020. Unless momentum is soon gained in Australia, there is a very real risk that Australia will be the last country on earth where blinding trachoma remains. The importance of trachoma in the overall context of Indigenous health is constantly debated. We set out to evaluate the SAFE strategy, including the impact of a swimming pool. However the project soon changed course. This thesis shows that trachoma is still a major public health concern and a cause of significant visual morbidity. This thesis demonstrates that the A and F components of the SAFE strategy can be an effective intervention. This thesis reports on some of the barriers that are impeding the widespread implementation of SAFE within the Northern Territory of Australia. (For complete abstract open document)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/245775 |
| Creators | Wright, Heathcote R. |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
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