Atkinson Josie R, Boudville Andrea I, Stanford Emma E, Lange Fiona D, Anjou Mitchell D
Indigenous Eye Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Level 5, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
Aust J Prim Health. 2014;20(4):334-8. doi: 10.1071/PY14050.
Australia is the only developed country to suffer trachoma and it is only found in remote Indigenous communities. In 2009, trachoma prevalence was 14%, but through screening, treatment and health promotion, rates had fallen to 4% in 2012. More work needs to be done to sustain these declining rates. In 2012, 25% of screened communities still had endemic trachoma and 8% had hyperendemic trachoma. In addition, only 58% of communities had reached clean face targets in children aged 5-9 years. Australian Football League (AFL) players are highly influential role models and the community love of football provides a platform to engage and strengthen community participation in health promotion. The University of Melbourne has partnered with Melbourne Football Club since 2010 to run trachoma football hygiene clinics in the Northern Territory (NT) to raise awareness of the importance of clean faces in order to reduce the spread of trachoma. This activity supports Federal and state government trachoma screening and treatment programs. Between 2010 and 2013, 12 football clinics were held in major towns and remote communities in the NT. Almost 2000 children and adults attended football clinics run by 16 partner organisations. Awareness of the football clinics has grown and has become a media feature in the NT trachoma elimination campaign. The hygiene station featured within the football clinic could be adapted for other events hosted in remote NT community events to add value to the experience and reinforce good holistic health and hygiene messages, as well as encourage interagency collaboration.
澳大利亚是唯一遭受沙眼困扰的发达国家，且仅在偏远的原住民社区发现这种疾病。2009年，沙眼患病率为14%，但通过筛查、治疗和健康促进，到2012年患病率已降至4%。要维持这些下降的比率，还需要做更多工作。2012年，25%接受筛查的社区仍有地方性沙眼，8%有高度地方性沙眼。此外，只有58%的社区在5至9岁儿童中实现了面部清洁目标。澳大利亚足球联赛（AFL）的球员是极具影响力的榜样，而社区对足球的热爱为参与和加强社区健康促进活动提供了一个平台。自2010年以来，墨尔本大学与墨尔本足球俱乐部合作，在北领地（NT）开设沙眼足球卫生诊所，以提高人们对面部清洁重要性的认识，从而减少沙眼传播。这项活动支持联邦和州政府的沙眼筛查和治疗项目。2010年至2013年期间，在北领地的主要城镇和偏远社区举办了12场足球诊所活动。近2000名儿童和成人参加了由16个合作组织举办的足球诊所活动。足球诊所的知名度不断提高，并已成为北领地沙眼消除运动中的一个媒体亮点。足球诊所内设置的卫生站可适用于在北领地偏远社区举办的其他活动，为体验增添价值，强化良好的整体健康和卫生信息，并鼓励跨部门合作。
