ITI - International Trachoma Initiative

The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) was founded in 1998 in response to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) call to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020 (GET2020).  ITI coordinates the donation of Zithromax® by Pfizer and assists countries and partners to develop supply chain capacity where needed.  

ITI collaborates with governmental and nongovernmental agencies at the local, national and international levels to implement the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy for trachoma control (Surgery; Antibiotics—using donated Zithromax®; Facial cleanliness; and Environmental improvement).

Implementation of all components of the SAFE strategy relies on multiple partnerships in various sectors such as water, sanitation and education that are essential to achieving our shared goal of elimination. To date, Pfizer has donated more than 225 million Zithromax® treatments through ITI. This medicine has reached millions of people in 19 countries. ITI plans to be active in more than 42 countries by 2015.

ITI is a program of the Task Force for Global Health to leverage resources and significantly increase efforts to eliminate blinding trachoma.