The End Fund, Inc.

Date of Award

08.28.2018

Program

Sub-Saharan Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa

Amount

$8,374,566

Term of Grant

36 months

Project Title

Addressing Trachoma Surgery Gaps in Ethiopia

Project Description

Ethiopia is a high priority country for trachoma elimination due to its high disease prevalence and large surgical backlog. As of 2016, it had both the largest number of people at risk for active trachoma, at over 75 million, and the highest backlog of trichiasis cases, at over 693,000, of any country in the world. While Ethiopia has made notable progress to reduce the surgery backlog, many individuals suffering from trichiasis do not have access to services. Supporting trachoma surgery in Ethiopia is an exciting opportunity to reach a significant portion of remaining trichiasis cases, providing these individuals with surgical services or other case management to help relieve pain, enable them to return to work, and prevent vision loss and blindness. As detailed in the following information and attached budget, with a generous grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust of $8,374,566 would allow the END Fund and our partners to target over 95,000 cases for intervention in seven regions: Amhara, Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, SNNPR, and Somali. By investing in capacity building of surgeons and case finders and improved reporting systems, Ethiopia?s national NTD program and the health system as a whole will be strengthened. Lessons learned and findings from this project will inform future trichiasis efforts in Ethiopia and in other countries progressing towards global elimination goals. This project will be strategically coordinated with other funders and partners supporting mass drug administration (MDA) for routine treatment of trachoma, as well as education around facial cleanliness and environmental improvements that are critical to reaching trachoma elimination goals, and therefore represents a critical opportunity to leverage existing funding and interventions already in place. The END Fund has outlined the overall strategy to address current regional gaps in the provision of trichiasis surgical services in Ethiopia through advocacy, high quality training, mobilization, supportive supervision, and monitoring. It will take a strategic and coordinated approach that honors the unique needs and circumstances of the regions while systematizing components of the project to ensure high quality and high output of the services provided. The END Fund will provide cost effective project management, emphasizing a collaborative effort between technical partners, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), and the Regional Health Bureaus to ensure the maximum number of trichiasis patients are reached during the life of the project. This, in turn, will support the national government of Ethiopia in reaching its goal of eliminating its trachoma surgical backlog in Ethiopia by 2020, and preserve the sight and alleviating the suffering of thousands of people. For additional details about blinding trachoma and trachoma surgery, please see attachment titled: 2018 Blinding Trachoma and Trachoma Surgery_ additional details.