The statement comes as a relief for South Sudan, which has one of the highest cases of trachoma in the world amid the U.S. suspension of aid to foreign countries. 

By Opio Jackson

The Carter Center and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has announced a $2 million program to end suffering from major causes of preventable blindness in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Venezuela, and Brazil.

The announcement was made at The Carter Center in Atlanta on Tuesday.

The statement comes as a relief for South Sudan, which has one of the highest cases of trachoma in the world amid the U.S. suspension of aid to foreign countries. 

“Thanks to Lions’ longstanding support, millions of people are now living free from river blindness and trachoma,” Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander said.

 “Today’s signing is a celebration of all that we have accomplished together over the course of three decades, but it is also a promise to continue this work and to preserve President Carter’s legacy – both as a Lion and as the founder of The Carter Center.”

LCIF has supported The Carter Center in its fight against blinding trachoma and debilitating river blindness in 14 African and Latin American countries.

Local Lions clubs coordinate closely with Carter Center staff to mobilize communities to participate in mass drug administration, sight-saving surgery campaigns, and latrine construction. They also meet with influential national leaders to advocate for continued attention to river blindness and trachoma.

“Lions International and Lions worldwide are immensely proud of our partnership’s impact over the last three decades,” said LCIF Chairperson, Dr. Patti Hill.

“Our collaborative efforts have truly changed countless lives and improved entire communities. We look forward to the joint impact we will have alongside The Carter Center as part of this renewed commitment.”

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the late co-founder of The Carter Center, worked with the people of South Sudan since 1986, when the area was still part of Sudan.

Since South Sudan’s independence in 2011, the Center has continued to assist the newly established nation in resolving conflict, negotiating and preserving peace, and eliminating devastating neglected diseases.

The Carter Center has assisted the Trachoma Control Program in South Sudan since 2000 through prevalence mapping and the implementation of SAFE strategy interventions. 

Baseline prevalence surveys conducted in South Sudan between 2001 and 2023 showed that South Sudan is highly endemic for trachoma. The country has some of the highest known trachoma prevalence levels in the world, with one baseline survey conducted in one country showing over 50% trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF, an indication of the disease) in children ages 1 to 9 years, and 4% trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in adults 15 years and above.

South Sudan has set 2030 as its goal to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem.

“Thanks to Lions’ longstanding support, millions of people are now living free from river blindness and trachoma,” Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander said.