THE TRACHOMA STATUS AND BLINDNESS RATES OF SELECTED AREAS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA IN 1979-80

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A survey of 4 selected areas of Papua New Guinea [PNG] was made during 1979-1980 to establish the prevalence [human] of trachoma and its complications, and blindness rates and its causes, in those areas. Trachoma was found to be endemic in all the areas studied, but was of mild intensity and rarely caused visual deficit. Apparently, the most practical step towards reducing the prevalence of trachoma in PNG in the future, is not by a mass treatment campaign, but by basic education in simple hygiene. An overall blindness rate of 0.50% was found in this survey, indicating that blindness is not a big problem in PNG. There is still a need for improved primary eye health care, the training of national ophthalmologists, and the provision for 1 institution for the training of the blind in PNG.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: