Trachoma
Trachoma became an issue for the school in the first term of 1999 when Dr Van Lansingh from the University of Melbourne, Department of Opthalmology, visited the school to screen our students. It was this screening that returned a result of 55% of students screened under 10 years of age having a positive result.

Since that time the school has implemented a face and hand washing program in addition to the shower program. The students have also been involved in a research project to count the number of flies each fortnight over a year.

These projects are part of a greater community scheme sponsored by the Christian Blind Mission that has sought to control dust by the surfacing of community roads landscaping and planting windbreaks around community houses as well as other medical initiatives through AP Health.

Dr Lansingh visits regularly to rescreen the students. In April 2001 the school staff was congratulated on their efforts as the screening results had dropped to around 35% positive. But there is still a long way to go.

Link to our Newsletter report.

Go to Newsletter page on the Fly Project.

Go to Newsletter page on other Health Workers in our community.