The outbreak of the infectious disease was declared in Dar es Salaam in mid-January this year and has been spreading fast to other regions
Dar es Salaam. Viral conjunctivitis, popularly known as red eyes, has now spread to 23 regions of the Tanzanian mainland, with the government yesterday warning over the use of local remedies, some of which pose serious risks.
The outbreak of the infectious disease was declared in Dar es Salaam in mid-January this year and has been spreading fast to other regions.
In a window of about eleven days, the number of affected persons on the mainland increased to 12,332 from 5,359, according to the director of curative services at the Ministry of Health, Prof Paschal Ruggajo.
The increase in the number of patients seems to be in tandem with the widespread use of unprofessional methods to treat red eyes, posing a risk of damaging the eyes.
The government said it’s aware of the increase in people who go for treatment after they have undergone self-prescription.
“The misuse of medications purchased from pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription has led to corneal issues. Presently, four individuals are undergoing eye treatments as a result of this improper medication usage,” said Prof Ruggajo.
He reiterated the importance for Tanzanians to adhere to proper hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing with running water and soap and avoiding touching the eyes and physical contact, as effective measures to break the chain of disease transmission.
When asked about the right medication for red eyes, he said there is no specific treatment for the disease, and it heals by itself between four and six weeks.
He cautioned pharmacists against selling medicines without a doctor’s prescription, warning that their licences would be revoked upon evidence of malpractice.
The national eye care programme manager at the Ministry of Health, Dr Bernadetha Shilio, said that treatment for individuals who develop corneal issues typically requires up to one month for complete healing.
"The most challenging part is that there is a potential risk of complete loss of sight,” she said, adding that after treatment, most of the patients remain with white scars, which can result in blindness.
“At the end of treatment, we might be forced to completely remove the eye, particularly in cases where patients' corneas are deteriorating, leading to persistent pain. We may also consider removal as a preventative measure to halt potential new infections from spreading to other parts of the body,” said Dr Shilio.
When asked about the cost of treating a patient with corneal wounds, she emphasised that an accurate estimation is challenging without a thorough cost assessment.
However, during the entire month of treatment, patients are unable to engage in any income-generating activities.
She advised people to follow the proper treatment channels to avoid unnecessary health complications.
