Egypt Achieves Historic Milestone: Eliminates Trachoma as Public Health Problem

Historic Achievement in Public Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially announced on November 12, 2025, that Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. This declaration marks a historic milestone for the country, which has battled the disease for over 3,000 years. Egypt is now the 27th country globally and the seventh in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this status.

Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the world's leading infectious cause of avoidable blindness. It spreads through contact with infected eye secretions and thrives in communities with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Repeated infections can lead to irreversible blindness.

A Long-Fought Battle and Strategic Implementation

Egypt's journey to eliminate trachoma involved decades of sustained effort. Public health initiatives to combat the disease date back to the early 20th century, with pioneering ophthalmologist Arthur Ferguson MacCallan establishing the country's first mobile and permanent eye hospitals. However, by the 1980s, the disease still affected a significant portion of children in some Nile Delta communities and blinded thousands of adults.

Since 2002, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, in partnership with the WHO and other international stakeholders, has rigorously implemented the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy:

• Surgery for trichiasis (the blinding stage of the disease)
• Antibiotics to clear the infection
• Facial cleanliness
• Environmental improvement (including access to safe water and sanitation)

Extensive mapping and surveillance conducted across all 27 governorates between 2015 and 2025 showed a steady reduction in active trachoma among children aged 1–9 years, with the prevalence falling below WHO elimination thresholds. In 2024, Egypt further strengthened its efforts by integrating trachoma monitoring into its national electronic disease reporting system to ensure rapid responses to any new cases. Initiatives such as 'Haya Karima' also played a crucial role by expanding access to safe water, sanitation, and primary care services in rural communities.

Statements from Leadership and Global Context

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, congratulated Egypt, stating, 'This demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained national leadership, strong surveillance, and community engagement in ending a disease that has afflicted humanity since antiquity.' Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, highlighted that this achievement reflects Egypt's 'sustained commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and the transformative impact of initiatives.'

This marks the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) eliminated by Egypt, following the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in 2018. Despite this progress, trachoma remains a public health problem in 30 countries worldwide, affecting approximately 1.9 million people with blindness or visual impairment, and leaving 103 million people still at risk.