Having performed TT-surgery (reversing the effects of repeated trachoma infections, which cause the eyelashes to turn inward and rub against the eyeball, eventually causing irreversible vision loss) for over six years now, she told us:
Meet Yeshiemebet
Today we want to introduce you to Yeshiemebet, a compassionate nurse who has been helping eliminate trachoma in the SNNPR region where Orbis has been active for many years. Here‘s a little more about here:
TT Surgeries
After fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a nurse and working at a health center in her hometown, Yeshiemebet’s developed an interest in eye care and was recruited and trained by Orbis as one of the first health workers in the Sidama region to carry out trachomatous trichiasis surgeries.
“I am interested in eye care service because the eye is one of the main organs of our body. And it is a rewarding responsibility to be able to restore people’s sight before they face blindness.”
Yeshiemebet also works on Trachoma Impact Surveys as a Recorder, critical work which tracks progress in eliminating the disease and helps target prevention efforts most effectively.
She was specially trained by Orbis to carry out these surveys, going home-to-home, assessing the community’s susceptibility to infection and finding preventative solutions; an impactful and rewarding role she has held for three years. Yeshiemebet tells us “through our visits, the people now have enough awareness about trachoma, they know the benefits of the medicine. We notice there are fewer and fewer cases when we go back to the same area. Nowadays, people have enough awareness that they can even explain it well to other community members.”
Yeshiemebet ensuring that data collected in a trachoma survey is reliably captured for later analysis.
Mass Drug Administration
In the past Yeshiemebet has also participated in our annual mass drug administration (MDA). Trachoma is a bacterial infection of the eye which can cause irreversible blindness. MDA is now implemented as a door-to-door model, distributing the antibiotic azithromycin to Ethiopians at high risk for trachoma.
Yeshiemebet dreams that one day Ethiopia will be free from any trachoma.
And so do we. With your continued support, we’re a step closer to making this dream a reality.
