Pan American Health Organization

Purpose

This project aims to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem in 10 countries in the Americas. This project seeks to increase access to and demand for SAFE Strategy interventions for populations living in vulnerable conditions, including women, children, and Indigenous populations. SAFE is the evidence-based recommended strategy to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. It is an integrated package of interventions, including surgery to avoid impairment, antibiotics to reduce infection, facial cleanliness to prevent infection, and environmental improvement to reduce transmission. The project also aims to promote the strengthening of community participation by increasing opportunities and spaces for women's empowerment and decision-making power to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and Indigenous communities. Project activities include: (1) carrying out a baseline analysis of gender dynamics and barriers in health services to eliminate trachoma, especially the SAFE interventions; (2) strengthening information systems to collect, analyze, and use disaggregated data by age, sex, place of residence, and ethnicity; (3) strengthening the capacity of local health workers and women's groups to provide integrated services; (4) stimulating and facilitating cross-cultural dialogues with local actors, communities, and women to participate in transforming local health systems; and (5) generating communication and messages adapted to gender and ethnicity contexts in the project beneficiary populations.