The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced that Egypt has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem — a landmark achievement marking the country’s success in eradicating a disease that has afflicted humanity for millennia. With this, Egypt becomes the seventh country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and the 27th globally to reach this milestone.
“I congratulate Egypt for reaching this milestone and liberating its people from trachoma,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “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, causing blindness or visual impairment in about 1.9 million people. As of April 2025, nearly 103 million individuals still live in trachoma-endemic areas.
Trachoma has been documented in Egypt for more than 3,000 years. Early control efforts began in the early 20th century under ophthalmologist Arthur Ferguson MacCallan, who pioneered Egypt’s first mobile and permanent eye hospitals. However, the disease continued to affect many adults and over half of all children in some Nile Delta regions even in the 1980s.
Since 2002, Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), in collaboration with WHO and several national and global partners, has implemented the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy—Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement—to eliminate trachoma.
Between 2015 and 2025, surveillance across all 27 governorates revealed a significant decline in active trachoma among children aged 1–9 years and minimal complications among adults—both now below WHO’s elimination thresholds. In 2024, Egypt further strengthened disease monitoring by integrating trachoma surveillance into its national electronic reporting system.
“Egypt’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem underscores the nation’s sustained commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and the transformative impact of initiatives such as Haya Karima, which have expanded access to clean water, sanitation, and primary care in rural communities,” said Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population.
Trachoma is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) Egypt has eliminated, following the successful elimination of lymphatic filariasis in 2018. Egypt has also achieved elimination of polio, measles, rubella, and malaria in recent decades.
“This milestone adds to Egypt’s strong track record in eliminating communicable diseases,” said Dr. Nima Abid, WHO Representative to Egypt. “It reflects what can be achieved when political will, partnerships, and sustained public health efforts come together towards a shared vision.”
Egypt’s success was driven by coordinated action and strong partnerships across sectors. WHO worked closely with MoHP, supported by key partners 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 Tropical Data initiative.
“Congratulations to Egypt on this historic achievement,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “This success reflects years of dedication and collaboration, proving that elimination is possible when communities and health workers unite under a common goal.”