John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Will the minister inform the Senate what the government is doing to help eliminate blinding trachoma in Australia?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. This government has committed $16½ million over four years to prevent, screen for and treat trachoma in Indigenous communities in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia through the Closing the Gap—improving eye and ear health services for Indigenous Australians measure.

Trachoma is a preventable bacterial eye infection that is a leading cause of blindness, particularly for people living in remote communities. This funding will renew the agreement between the Commonwealth government and the New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australian and Western Australian governments for additional trachoma screening, treatment, management and prevention activities. Blindness rates among Indigenous people are more than six times higher than the rest of the population, and trachoma is a contributing factor. The Australian government is a signatory to the World Health Organization resolution to eliminate blinding trachoma by the year 2020. Trachoma infections can impact on the ability of Indigenous children to receive a good education. Repeated trachoma infections can cause blindness in adults, which impacts on the ability of Indigenous adults to gain meaningful employment.

This funding will support at-risk communities through screening and treatment activities and working with local primary-care services, Aboriginal healthcare professionals and teachers to help stop the spread of trachoma through prevention programs. For example, the funding will help build on the Northern Territory's Clean Faces, Strong Eyes campaign, which has successfully encouraged face washing to prevent the spread of trachoma in children.

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts in this area through the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. Just yesterday, I met with Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery, who chairs the board of the trust, and heard about the work that he is overseeing in this area. This government remains committed to ensuring that we lower the incidence of trachoma.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank Senator Nash for her answer. Will the minister advise how this funding will be used to contribute to the elimination of trachoma?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senators talking across the table and across the chamber cease! Senator Cameron!

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Thank you, Senator Conroy.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This funding will enable the continuation of agreements with the New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australian and Western Australian governments for trachoma control and treatment activities. Treatment activities and milestones include screening at least 85 per cent of five- to nine-year-olds in at-risk communities for trachoma, treatment of at least 85 per cent of trachoma cases and follow-up of any household contact.

I have travelled to the remote communities in outback Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland and seen firsthand the need for programs like Clean Faces, Strong Eyes. Through this funding and agreement, jurisdictions provide surveillance and treatment data to the National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit. As a result of the collection and analysis of this data, we can see the prevalence has significantly decreased in five- to nine-year-olds in screened communities from 14 per cent in 2009 to four per cent in 2012.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I thank the minister again. Will the minister inform the Senate what other activities the government is funding to improve eye health for Indigenous Australians?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government acknowledges the importance of comprehensive information about the current status of eye health in Australia and is providing around $1 million towards the development of a national eye health survey. We are committed to increasing access to primary eye care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including through outreach services to rural and remote locations through programs such as the Visiting Optometrists Scheme and the Rural Health Outreach Fund.

I personally want to commend the work of the Fred Hollows Foundation and, in particular, Professor Minas Coroneo. Professor Coroneo has provided first-class eye care to Indigenous and remote communities in north-west New South Wales. I have been to the Bourke hospital and watched the team in action, which includes Joanna Barton, one of his colleagues, who has worked for over 40 years delivering this program and great service to those people in that part of New South Wales and beyond. Improving eye health is a key component of this government's commitment to improving Indigenous health.