Trachoma in eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Trachoma is one of the main cause of curable/preventable blindness in Saudi Arabia. First survey by NICHOL and al. 1955-65 in Eastern Province revealed prevalence rate of trachoma as 100% in Al Hasa, 98.0% in Qatif Oasis and 93.0% in Qatif town dwellers. Preliminary study by Ministry of Health, Eastern Province in 1986 revealed 3.74% of the population blind showing 10.1% due to trachoma. In 1986, Ministry of Health established Regional Prevention of Blindness & Ophthalmic Medical Education Committee, Eastern Province with six sub-divisions in Al Hasa, Qatif, Dammam, Al Khobar/Dhahran, Jubail and Hafr Al Batin. The whole health care divided in primary, secondary and tertiary level in 1987 and incorporated primary eye health care with primary health care. The Trachoma Center as a part of P.H.C. in Al Hasa was started in 1987 and a mass trachoma eradication programme by Trachoma Center was launched in 1988 along with improvement in socio-economic status/health facilities within last 10 years including development of structured P.H.C. system, leading to public awareness, prevention, treatment of bulk of active trachomas in this region particularly Al Hasa. This reduced the rate of prevalence of active trachoma to 1.5% in Al Hasa. Maximum active/inactive trachomas among the age above 55 years is 98.0% in Qatif region. Ministry of Health is in process of developing the Trachoma Center in Qatif region as well as comprehensive eye care by completing preliminary tertiary level care Eye Hospital in Dhahran to reduce the incidence of active trachoma below 0.5% within the next five years; thus achieve the goal of Prevention of Blindness in Saudi Arabia.