The International Trachoma Initiative Joins with ORBIS International to Eliminate Blinding Trachoma in Ethiopia.

Donation of Zithromax Will Prevent Tens of Thousands in Ethiopia from Going Blind

NEW YORK, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- ORBIS International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of blindness in the developing world, today announced that the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), will provide more than $17 million worth of the Pfizer-donated antibiotic Zithromax to help ORBIS in its fight against one of the world's leading causes of blindness -- trachoma. ITI will also donate similar amounts of Zithromax to ORBIS for the next two years.

"This donation by Pfizer, through ITI, will be life changing to so many Ethiopians," said Oliver Foot, president and executive director of ORBIS. "Zithromax is giving sight to thousands who would go needlessly blind. And by distributing the drug, we are not only improving individual lives, but all of Ethiopia. Fewer blind people means more people available to work and contribute to their communities and their country."

Trachoma is the oldest infection known to man and leads to blindness. Trachoma affects 84 million people worldwide; eight million of whom are blind. Preschool children and adult women are most at risk of contracting trachoma. However, a single dose of Zithromax can protect a person from trachoma for a full year. ORBIS will be distributing the donated Zithromax in Ethiopia, where more than 20% of all unnecessary blindness is due to trachoma.

"Going blind due to trachoma is terrible thing, especially since it can be so easily prevented," said Jacob Kumaresan, president of ITI. "By combining our efforts, ...