By Ayomide Otitoju
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated that Egypt has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a historic milestone for the country and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Egypt is the seventh country in the region to achieve this status and the 27th worldwide.
“I congratulate Egypt for reaching this milestone and liberating its people from trachoma,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained national leadership, strong surveillance, and community engagement in ending a disease that has afflicted humanity since antiquity.”
Despite this progress, trachoma remains a public health concern in 30 countries, affecting around 1.9 million people with blindness or visual impairment. According to April 2025 data, approximately 103 million people still live in trachoma-endemic areas and remain at risk.
Trachoma has been documented in Egypt for over 3,000 years. Public health interventions date back to the early 20th century, when ophthalmologist Sir Arthur Ferguson Ma
cCallan established Egypt’s first mobile and permanent eye hospitals, laying the foundation for organized trachoma control globally. By the 1980s, the disease still caused blindness in many adults and affected over half of all children in some Nile Delta communities.
Since 2002, Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, in partnership with WHO and other national and international stakeholders, has implemented the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy—Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement. Between 2015 and 2025, comprehensive mapping and surveillance across all 27 governorates showed a steady decline in trachoma among children aged 1–9 years, with no significant burden of blinding complications among adults. In 2024, Egypt integrated trachoma surveillance into its national electronic disease reporting system to enable rapid response to future cases.
“Egypt’s elimination of trachoma underscores the nation’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and the impact of initiatives such as Haya Karima, which have expanded access to safe water, sanitation, and primary care in rural communities,” said Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population. “This achievement is a collective triumph for Egypt’s health workers, communities, and partners who worked tirelessly to eradicate this ancient disease.”
Trachoma is Egypt’s second eliminated neglected tropical disease (NTD), following the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in 2018. Globally, 58 countries have eliminated at least one NTD, including nine in the WHO EMR.
“This milestone adds to Egypt’s strong record in controlling communicable diseases, including polio, measles, rubella, and malaria,” said Dr. Nima Abid, WHO Representative to Egypt. “It shows what can be achieved through political commitment, strong partnerships, and sustained public health efforts led by the Ministry of Health and Population. Egypt’s success serves as an inspiring example for other countries in the region and beyond.”
The elimination effort involved coordinated national leadership and collaboration across multiple sectors, with WHO providing technical guidance, monitoring, and validation support. Key partners included 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 initiative.
“Congratulations to Egypt on this historic achievement,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “This success demonstrates that with collaboration and persistence, elimination is achievable. Egypt exemplifies what determination and dedication can accomplish in public health.”
