A Historic Victory: Egypt's Battle Against Trachoma
In a remarkable achievement, Egypt has emerged victorious in its long-standing battle against trachoma, a disease that has plagued humanity for millennia. This success story not only marks a significant milestone for Egypt but also for the entire Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
A Global Impact
With Egypt's validation, the number of countries worldwide that have eliminated trachoma as a public health problem has risen to an impressive 27. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, praised Egypt's accomplishment, emphasizing the role of sustained national leadership, robust surveillance, and community engagement in eradicating this ancient disease.
The Global Challenge Persists
Despite Egypt's triumph, trachoma remains a public health concern in 30 countries, affecting the vision of approximately 1.9 million people. Blindness caused by trachoma is often irreversible, and as of April 2025, an alarming 103 million individuals reside in trachoma-endemic areas, facing the risk of blindness.
A Century-Long Journey
Trachoma's presence in Egypt dates back over 3,000 years, with public health efforts to combat its impact beginning in the early 20th century. Sir Arthur Ferguson MacCallan, a pioneering ophthalmologist, established Egypt's first mobile and permanent eye hospitals, laying the foundation for global trachoma control. However, by the 1980s, trachoma continued to blind adults and affect over half of all children in certain Nile Delta communities.
The SAFE Strategy: A Comprehensive Approach
Since 2002, Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population, in collaboration with WHO and various national and international stakeholders, has pursued trachoma elimination through the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy. This strategy encompasses Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics to treat the causative organism, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement.
Between 2015 and 2025, extensive mapping and surveillance across all 27 governorates of Egypt revealed a steady decline in the proportion of children aged 1-9 years affected by active (inflammatory) trachoma. Additionally, there was no significant burden of trachoma-related blindness complications in adults. Both indicators are now below WHO's elimination prevalence thresholds nationwide.
In 2024, Egypt further strengthened its surveillance efforts by integrating trachoma monitoring into its national electronic disease reporting system, ensuring a rapid response to any future cases.
A Collective Triumph
Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, attributed Egypt's success to the nation's sustained commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and initiatives like Haya Karima, which have expanded access to safe water, sanitation, and primary care services in rural communities. He emphasized that this achievement is a collective victory for Egypt's health workers, communities, and partners who united to eradicate this ancient disease.
Egypt's Track Record in Disease Elimination
Trachoma is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) eliminated in Egypt. In 2018, WHO validated the country's elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. Globally, 58 countries have eliminated at least one NTD, with nine of them in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Dr. Nima Abid, WHO Representative to Egypt, highlighted Egypt's strong track record in eliminating communicable diseases, including polio, measles, rubella, and most recently, malaria. This milestone demonstrates the power of political commitment, strong partnerships, and sustained public health efforts, led by the Ministry of Health and Population, towards a shared vision.
The Power of Collaboration
Egypt's success in eliminating trachoma is a testament to strong national leadership, coordinated action, and broad collaboration across sectors. WHO played a crucial role, working closely with the Ministry of Health and Population to provide technical guidance, monitoring, and validation support throughout the elimination process. This achievement was made possible through the technical and financial contributions of numerous partners, including the Haya Karima Foundation, the Eastern Mediterranean Region Trachoma Alliance, and various other organizations and initiatives.
A Message of Hope and Determination
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, congratulated Egypt on this historic achievement, emphasizing that collaboration and persistence are key to achieving elimination. This success reflects the dedication and tireless efforts of communities, health workers, and partners who believed that everyone deserves to live free from preventable diseases. Egypt's determination serves as an inspiring example for other countries in the Region and beyond.
