Splashing water on our faces while  washing helps to prevent and control the spread of trachoma says the National Wellness Centre’s eye project officer, Vasenai Vasukiwai.

“Trachoma is an infection that affects the eyes of children,” Ms Vasukiwai said.

“We are trying to draw attention to avoidable blindness and rehabilitation on World Sight Day which is celebrated today [Thursday].”

She said children having repeated trachoma infections could develop changes to the eye lids that could lead to blindness when they reached adulthood.

“One of the ways that children can prevent trachoma happening and spreading is to ensure that they always have a clean face.”

Ms Vasukiwai said it was important to have a clean face and water should be used to splash on the face often to keep it clean and free of sticky stuff that came out of eyes and noses.

“We should also note that we should not share face towels.”

She said there was a need to splash water on the face because a clean face helped to keep trachoma away.

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