Panajachel, Guatemala, 11 February 2025 (PAHO) - The Initiative for the Elimination of Trachoma in the Americas, a partnership between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Government of Canada, brought together public health workers from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Guatemala in a train-the-trainer workshop on trachoma. The workshop was held from 3 to 7 February in Panajachel, Guatemala, with the support of the technical team from Tropical Data, a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center.
The objective was to train trainers from different countries in the implementation of trachoma "plus" surveys. In addition to clinical trachoma examinations, these surveys include complementary indicators and provide evidence for programmatic decision making and surveillance following validation of the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem.
With the support of local health officials, participants visited the communities of Xejuyup and Providencia in the department of Sololá, where the disease is a public health problem. Field activities helped to strengthen participants’ knowledge, under the supervision of trachoma experts. The aim was to ensure assertive outreach and communication with community leaders and heads of households, and to conduct clinical examinations, data recording, and high-quality sampling. All procedures were implemented with a focus on gender and respect for cultural diversity, ensuring inclusive and sensitive interactions with communities.
As a result of this training, Tropical Data, a global initiative that supports data collection and analysis for the surveillance of trachoma and other neglected diseases, certified 14 participants in charge of strengthening technical capacity for the surveillance, control, and elimination of trachoma in the Region.
