Last week, the British government announced that it will support a new mapping project for trachoma in 30 of the world’s poorest countries over the next three years.

Trachoma is the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness and affects more than 21 million people around the world.  However, up to 180 million people live in areas affected by trachoma, putting them at risk for contracting the disease and going blind.

The British government is supporting a consortium of organizations to help carry out the mapping, which includes the International Trachoma Initiative, as well as other NGOs and academic institutions, led by Sightsavers.

Mapping is an important step in learning where more resources are needed to treat, prevent and eventually eliminate a disease.

Read the Sightsavers press release here.