Children urged to keep faces clean to prevent trachoma

Students of Maloku Primary and Kindergarten School in Moala, Lau, are being encouraged to maintain proper facial hygiene as part of ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of Trachoma.

Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads easily through contact with infected eye discharge, including through hands, clothing or flies.

The Ministry of Health says repeated infections can lead to inflammation and scarring of the eyelid, causing eyelashes to turn inward and scratch the eye, a painful condition that can eventually result in permanent blindness if left untreated.

They say children are considered the most vulnerable group and often act as carriers of the infection within communities.

To address this, medical teams recently carried out school-based screenings at the Moala school and provided antibiotics to affected students.

Prevention efforts are guided by the SAFE strategy — Surgery for advanced cases, Antibiotics to treat infection, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements.

Health officials are stressing the importance of simple daily habits, such as washing faces with clean water and maintaining proper sanitation, to reduce the risk of infection and limit the spread of flies.

Lakeba Subdivisional Hospital’s Livinai Namami says Fiji is making strong progress toward eliminating trachoma as a public health concern. However, she emphasises that sustained community involvement remains critical.

Parents and guardians are also being urged to seek medical attention for children showing symptoms such as red or irritated eyes, or unusual discharge, to ensure early treatment and prevent complications.