Help GPSN support the Fred Hollows National Trachoma Program

Product Description

Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Supporters

Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world today, and it is easily preventable.

Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection, irritating the conjunctiva and the outside of the eye, which over time – with a lack of treatment, resources or assistance – become chronic. Repeated or longstanding infections lead to scarring of the eyelid, and trichiasis (inversion of the eye lashes) which then irritates the cornea, causing damage and eventual vision loss.

Both eyes are usually affected, and the disease takes time to inflict damage, leading to long term pain and suffering, before the permanent disability of blindness. Blindness which could have been avoided.

80% of people suffering from trachoma live in just 14 high-risk countries, 13 of which are in Africa). In Australia, trachoma remains endemic in a relatively small number of remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. However, Australia is the only developed country in the world which is still plagued by this highly preventable disease.

Trachoma spreads from person to person through unwashed hands, shared face-wiping cloths, and by flies that have been in contact with the discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person. Ongoing infection and re-infection fuels the progression of the disease to the stage where vision is lost.

Trachoma infection can be prevented through reducing the pool of infection and reducing transmission, often by antibiotics and improved access to water to maintain personal hygiene and sanitation. However, treatment becomes increasingly complex and unsuccessful in the more advanced phases of the disease.

GPSN is committed to the development of primary health care in Australia, and the plight of Aboriginal communities suffering this devastating eye disease should receive more attention, funding and support. The elimination of trachoma is an attainable goal – with contributions from government, as well as non-government organisations such as the Fred Hollows Foundation, and of course, you!

On October 1, GPSN will be running an event to raise funds for the Fred Hollows Foundation National Trachoma Program to assist in ridding Aboriginal communities of this disease. Getting involved is easy; simply vote for who you want to be ‘slimed’ (think Nickelodeon-style), and the ‘winner’ will be covered with a miscellaneous bucket of goo in front of a live audience.

We hope you’ll agree this is a fantastic cause, and a great opportunity to see a prominent med personality covered in gunk – exactly what, will be a surprise on the day!

Stephanie Kirkby

6 years ago

$5

Deakin Ducks

6 years ago

$5

Anonymous

6 years ago

$5

Anonymous

6 years ago

$5

Casey Law

6 years ago

$5

Senali Weeratunga

6 years ago

$2

April Strong

6 years ago

$5

Amy Rogers

6 years ago

$5

melissa allan

6 years ago

$5

Chantelle Valente

6 years ago

$2

Trent Taylor

6 years ago

$5

Benjamin MacIsaac

6 years ago

$3

Nathaniel Huynh

6 years ago

$5

Antoine Saleh

6 years ago

$5

mel zsori

6 years ago

$5

Mais Hussein

6 years ago

$5

April Strong

6 years ago

$5

julia vorobieva

6 years ago

$5

Katerina Lau

6 years ago

$5

Janet Guo

6 years ago

$5

Casey Law

slime paolo!

6 years ago

Amy

Scotty pls

6 years ago

Mollie Watson

Paolo!!

6 years ago

Jo Wekwerth

An extra big bucket of slime for Scott please 🙂

6 years ago

Olivia Dean

We’ve got to slime Scott!!!! 🙂

6 years ago

Emma Sutton

Please Slime Paolo

6 years ago

Lachlan B

Joe F ftw

7 years ago

Stephanie Ivezic

I vote for Paolo!

7 years ago

Rebecca Webster

Joseph4theslime

7 years ago

Phoebe Niven

Paolo

7 years ago

Jess Bahn

I vote for… Joseph Femia!!

7 years ago

GPSN Deakin