Egypt declared free of trachoma by WHO
WHO validates Egypt’s elimination of ancient eye disease after decades of progress and community-led health interventions
CAIRO, Egypt (MNTV) — The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday announced that Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a major public health milestone and making it the seventh country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve the status.
The validation raises to 27 the number of countries worldwide that have eliminated trachoma, a centuries-old infectious disease that causes blindness and visual impairment.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Egypt for “liberating its people from trachoma,” praising sustained national leadership, strong surveillance, and community engagement in achieving the goal.
Trachoma, which has been documented in Egypt for over 3,000 years, remained widespread in many rural communities until the early 2000s.
Since 2002, the Ministry of Health and Population, in collaboration with WHO and national partners, has implemented the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy—comprising Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement—to combat the disease.
Extensive mapping and monitoring between 2015 and 2025 showed a steady decline in infections among children and a near elimination of blinding complications in adults, with both indicators now below WHO thresholds.
Egypt also integrated trachoma surveillance into its national electronic reporting system in 2024.
Health Minister Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the achievement reflects Egypt’s “commitment to equitable healthcare delivery” and the success of national initiatives such as Haya Karima, which improved access to sanitation and healthcare in rural areas.
Egypt previously eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in 2018, becoming one of 58 countries globally to eradicate at least one neglected tropical disease (NTD).
Dr. Nima Abid, WHO Representative to Egypt, said the milestone adds to Egypt’s long record of eliminating communicable diseases including polio, measles, rubella, and malaria. “It demonstrates what is possible through political commitment and long-term partnerships,” he said.
WHO credited the achievement to collaboration with multiple organizations, including the Haya Karima Foundation, Sightsavers, CBM, the Magrabi Foundation, and the International Trachoma Initiative.
WHO Regional Director Dr. Hanan Balkhy commended Egypt’s success as “proof that elimination is achievable through collaboration and persistence,” adding that the country now stands as an inspiring model for others in the region.
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