In order to bring greater transparency to the global trachoma elimination program, the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), a program of The Task Force for Global Health, has developed a new online system called the Zithromax^® Shipment Tracker to monitor shipments of this antibiotic from manufacturing facilities to program distribution sites.

ITI manages Pfizer’s donation of the antibiotic Zithromax^®, which is used in comprehensive, integrated programs to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. This medicine is distributed during mass drug administration (MDA) in countries around the world. In 2016, ITI shipped more than 120 million doses of Zithromax^® to 24 countries for MDA.

The Zithromax Shipment Tracker is open access, allowing anyone interested to view information about shipments to specific countries at any given time. Visual representations indicate the locations of shipments at different points in the supply chain.

“This information was always available to partners,” says ITI Director Paul Emerson, PhD. “But having the Tracker gives everyone faster and easier access to this information, which improves trust and accountability and helps ensure that MDA happens on time.”

In addition to up-to-date shipment information, the Tracker provides data about the quantities of Zithromax^® requested and approved for specific countries, and the amounts of Zithromax^® shipped year-to-date and remaining to be shipped. Subscribers to the Tracker receive automated emails alerting them to changes in shipment status.

“ITI’s role is to work with partners to ensure we manage this extraordinary donation in the best possible way to ensure everyone who warrants treatment has access to the medicine,” said Emerson.

To access the system, sign up here.