EndTrachoma by 2020 Story

Posted on Aug 25, 2020
Rotary’s 2017-18 International President, Australia’s Ian Riseley, wants a trachoma-free Australia by 2021, Rotary’s 100th year in Australia. The World Health Organisation has a global goal to eliminate trachoma by 2020. Trachoma is an infectious eye disease that can be prevented with good hygiene practices. But it is still present in remote Aboriginal communities and can lead to permanent blindness. The work of the Australian Government, the Fred Hollows Foundation and Indigenous Eye Health to treat trachoma infections has seen rates in affected communities reduced substantially. But now, we need to ensure that hygiene practices and the community environments are improved to completely eliminate the disease.

  WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENDTRACHOMA?

We are at the beginning of this very significant project in Rotary Australia's history, and Australia's history.   There is work to do! 

  BECOME A DISTRICT TRACHOMA CHAMPION

Our Australian Centennial project needs your support on the ground to mobilise Rotarians and communicate the value of our project to clubs and communities.

We are currently recruiting District Trachoma Champions to engage club support across Australia to EndTrachoma by 2020.  If you are interested in working with us, with Rotary International President 2017-18 Ian Riseley and Zone Director Noel Trevaskis, with Rotary clubs around Australia to Make a Difference to communities within our own country, and make history in Rotary in Australia, and history in Australia, consider becoming a Trachoma Champion. 

Contact your District Governor for a role description, or get in touch with us directly.
 

  Click here for more Resources

Lien Trinh (left) from the End Trachoma 2020 project and Ron Saint,
Assistant DG group 10 (D9500) and Alice Springs Trachoma Champion.