MICHAEL MILSTON on END TRACHOMA

Trachoma is an infectious eye disease that can be prevented with good hygiene practices. But it is still present in remote Aboriginal communities and can lead to permanent blindness. Rotarians have linked up with the Federal government, the Fred Hollows Foundation and Indigenous Eye Health to treat trachoma infections has seen rates in affected communities reduced substantially. But now, we need to ensure that hygiene practices and the community environments are improved to completely eliminate the disease. We do this by working with Aboriginal community organisations.


END TRACHOMA

Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. This roughening can lead to pain in the eyes, breakdown of the outer surface or cornea of the eyes, and eventual blindness.Untreated, repeated trachoma infections can result in a form of permanent blindness when the eyelids turn inward.

The bacteria that cause the disease can be spread by both direct and indirect contact with an affected person's eyes or nose. Indirect contact includes through clothing or flies that have come into contact with an affected person's eyes or nose. Children spread the disease more often than adults. Poor sanitation, crowded living conditions, and not enough clean water and toilets also increase spread.

Rotary Clubs have partnered with the Federal government, the Fred Hollows Foundation and Indigenous Eye Health to treat trachoma infections and the occurrence of cases has substantially declined.

One of the most popular and successful projects used to find Trachoma was the 2000 Toiletry Kits for 2000 Children in the Northern Territory. 49 Rotary Clubs, Rotaract Clubs and other organisations made or collected toiletry kits which were supplied to 32 schools in the Alice Springs Region.

MICHAEL MILSTON

The End Trachoma projects cover and receive support from many Australian Rotary Districts, and in our D9705 PDG Michael Milston is the current district champion. Michael was District Governor during 2016-17 and took up the role with the End Trachoma program in 2017-18.

As District champion, Michael can make information available to clubs, connect clubs to the End Trachoma central office, and provide promotional material. Michael is a charter Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak. In his other life, as a community economist, with a long engagement with local government, he currently consults on policy, governance, engagement and strategic planning; he is also an Official Visitor appointed by the Minister for Mental Health.


                     CONTACT:               Michael           governor9700milston@bigpond.com
                                                                                0419 414 959


                      LOCATION:          Orange, NSW














Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KATHRYN RATCLIFFE on MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE

Image
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system. This leads to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting. Kathryn Ratcliffe, from Narooma, is a  a long-time supporter of raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease. Her family carries a genetic version, and she has lost over 10 family members, including her grandfather, father and brothers.  To raise awareness and to raise funds for research Katherine is taking part in the FightMND's annual road trip. This road trip, known as Daniher's Drive, is in its ninth year. In 2025 it will take place from the 9th to 12th October with more than 250 participants driving through parts of regional Victoria. MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE (MND) Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system. This leads to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting. MND happens when specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, called motor neurones, ...
Read more

GROVER GREENFIELD on RATS

Image
If you are looking for a talk for your local Rotary Club that is a bit different and will be talked about, then this may be it. Grover Greenfield will design a talk for you about rats. Grover has been a rat enthusiast since a very early age and now consults on animal ethics. This may be a great introduction to the world of rats. GROVER GREENFIELD AND RATS Anywhere rats are involved, you'll likely find Grover too! They have had rats as pets since age 13, and they have become a true passion. When Grove's health conditions progressed to the point where they could no longer continue their role as a research scientist, they found themselves with extra time to help pet rats and their owners who fell through the gaps of the animal rescue world. One thing led to another, and before long "Rachie's Ratirement Home" was born, an animal shelter specialising in the surprisingly popular domestic rat. The rescue has been nationally recognised as one of the best animal rescues in...
Read more

SHARLENE COHEN on MAASAI MAMMAS

Image
Sharlene Cohen is a dedicated environmentalist and conservationist, splitting her time between East Africa and her business, Urban Rewild, in Australia. She spends 3-4 months each year in East Africa, leading grassroots projects that foster sustainable development and community empowerment. The remainder of her time is devoted to local conservation efforts, including a Koala recovery and Spotted-tailed Quoll monitoring program. MAASAI MAMMAS Sharlene's connection with the Maasai community began in 2019 when she was profoundly moved by their deep connection to nature and dedication to wildlife protection. Since 2022, she has spearheaded ten grassroots projects in Uganda and Kenya, including sending 21 children to school through Christmas appeals, launching chicken projects, and leading environmental regeneration on cleared land, schools, and homes. Sharlene has also been instrumental in reforming wildlife poachers and supporting retired rangers. A key initiative is the Harvest Food ...
Read more