The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially confirmed that Egypt has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, a historic achievement for the country and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Egypt is the seventh nation in the region to reach this milestone, and the 27th globally.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI congratulate Egypt for reaching this milestone and liberating its people from trachoma,\u201d said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. \u201cThis demonstrates the impact of sustained national leadership, strong surveillance, and community engagement in tackling a disease that has afflicted humanity for millennia.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Trachoma, a preventable eye disease that can cause irreversible blindness, continues to affect around 1.9 million people in 30 countries. According to April 2025 data, more than 100 million people remain at risk in trachoma-endemic areas.<\/p>\n
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The disease has been recorded in Egypt for over 3 000 years. Efforts to address it date back to the early 20th century when Ophthalmologist Arthur Ferguson MacCallan established the country\u2019s first mobile and permanent eye hospitals, laying the groundwork for organised trachoma control. Despite these efforts, by the 1980s, the disease still blinded many adults and affected over half of children in some Nile Delta communities.<\/p>\n
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Since 2002, Egypt\u2019s Ministry of Health and Population, in partnership with WHO and other stakeholders, has pursued elimination through the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy, which includes surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvements. Between 2015 and 2025, national surveys across all 27 governorates showed a steady decline in active trachoma among children aged 1\u20139 years, while the prevalence of blinding complications in adults fell below WHO thresholds. In 2024, Egypt incorporated trachoma monitoring into its national electronic disease reporting system, enabling rapid responses to any new cases.<\/p>\n
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Professor Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt\u2019s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, praised the achievement, noting that initiatives such as Haya Karima, which expanded access to safe water, sanitation, and primary care in rural areas, played a key role. He described the milestone as a collective victory for health workers, communities, and partners who joined forces to eradicate the disease.<\/p>\n
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Trachoma is Egypt\u2019s second neglected tropical disease to be eliminated, following lymphatic filariasis in 2018. Worldwide, 58 countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease, nine of which are in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.<\/p>\n
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Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative to Egypt, said the achievement highlights Egypt\u2019s strong record in tackling communicable diseases, including polio, measles, rubella, and malaria. He described the country\u2019s success as an example of what sustained political commitment and collaboration can accomplish.<\/p>\n
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WHO worked closely with Egypt throughout the elimination process, providing technical guidance, monitoring, and validation support. Numerous partners contributed to the effort, including the Haya Karima Foundation, Eastern Mediterranean Region Trachoma Alliance, Nourseen Charity Foundation, International Trachoma Initiative, Global Trachoma Mapping Project, Sightsavers, CBM, Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology, Magrabi Foundation, and the Tropical Data global initiative.<\/p>\n
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Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said Egypt\u2019s accomplishment demonstrates that elimination is achievable with dedication and co-operation. \u201cThis success reflects years of tireless effort by communities, health workers, and partners committed to ensuring everyone can live free from preventable disease,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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