WHO joins fight against Liver blindness

Malawi has bemoaned the continued prevalence of Liver blindness, some 19 years after efforts against a condition that affects rural communities.
Health Minister Moses Chirambo said there was need for more resources and technical help, hailing World Health Organization (WHO) for being in the forefront against Liver blindness in the country.
WHO, which has a running project against Liver blindness spanning from 1997, has donated two toner vehicles and 100 bicycles meant it hopes will help reduce cases of Liver blindness through improved outreach mobility.
“It is a shame that Liver blindness continues to affect rural communities, many years after we started efforts aimed at raising public awareness. We really need more help,” said Chirambo.
WHO Country Representative for Malawi, Felistus Zawaira, attributed the continued spread of Liver blindness to perceptions that it was a condition for the rural masses.
“The result has been government neglect because those often affected have no voice. The other factor is that Liver blindness does not kill immediately, and this tends to bring some sort of laxity among rural communities,” said Zawaira.
Liver blindness may lead to complete blindness, but Malawian patients only develop partial blindness