Libya Eliminates Trachoma: WHO Declares Victory Against Preventable Blindness | Eastern Mediterranean Region Success
- Libya has been officially declared free of trachoma, a preventable infectious eye disease that can lead to blindness, by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- “This milestone reflects Libya’s determination to safeguard the health of its people and reinforces our conviction that progress against neglected tropical diseases is possible everywhere,” stated Dr.
- Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through contact with infected eye discharge, often via hands, clothing, or flies.
Libya has been officially declared free of trachoma, a preventable infectious eye disease that can lead to blindness, by the World Health Organization (WHO). This achievement, announced , marks a significant public health victory for the country and the eighth in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate the disease as a public health problem.
“This milestone reflects Libya’s determination to safeguard the health of its people and reinforces our conviction that progress against neglected tropical diseases is possible everywhere,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Eliminating trachoma as a public health problem is an inspiring achievement for the Eastern Mediterranean Region and for communities across Libya.”
Understanding Trachoma
Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through contact with infected eye discharge, often via hands, clothing, or flies. Repeated infections cause scarring of the inner eyelid, leading to a condition called trichiasis, where eyelashes grow inward and scratch the cornea. If left untreated, trichiasis can cause irreversible blindness.
The disease has been documented in Libya for over a century, with high levels of active trachoma reported in communities, particularly in the south, throughout the 20th century. Early control efforts were initiated by the Ministry of Health in the 1970s and 1980s, laying the groundwork for future success.
A Resilient Program Amidst Challenges
Libya’s success is particularly noteworthy given the years of political instability and humanitarian challenges the country has faced. These pressures strained health services, displaced populations, and increased demand for essential resources like water and sanitation – all factors that can contribute to the spread of trachoma. Despite these obstacles, the national trachoma elimination program persevered.
The program, launched in as part of the National Prevention of Blindness Programme, benefited from support from the WHO, Sightsavers, the International Trachoma Initiative, and Tropical Data. Surveys conducted in across six southern districts, where trachoma was suspected to persist, revealed active trachoma and trichiasis prevalences below WHO elimination thresholds. A subsequent surgical campaign addressed trichiasis cases in Wadi Al Hayaa/Ghat, and a follow-up survey in confirmed that trichiasis prevalence had fallen below the required threshold for elimination.
The program’s success hinged on integrating surveillance, expanding access to surgical care for trichiasis, building the capacity of eye health workers, and fostering partnerships with national and international stakeholders. This comprehensive approach, based on the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy – Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics to clear the causative organism, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement – proved effective in interrupting trachoma transmission.
A Global Effort Against Neglected Tropical Diseases
Libya’s achievement contributes to a broader global effort to eliminate trachoma and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These diseases affect approximately one billion people worldwide, primarily in impoverished communities in tropical areas, and cause significant health, social, and economic burdens.
The WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020) in , bringing together governments, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. The organization continues to support endemic countries in accelerating progress towards global elimination goals.
With Libya’s validation, a total of 28 countries worldwide have now eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Libya is the 59th country globally, and the 10th in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, to eliminate at least one NTD. This progress is being driven by evidence-based programming and coordinated technical support, even in challenging humanitarian contexts.
“This validation is a source of pride for Libya and a testament to the commitment of our health workers and communities,” said Dr. Mohamed Al-Ghoj, Acting Minister of Health. “Even through difficult years, we maintained our focus on improving eye health services and ensuring no one was left behind. This success would not have been possible without the professionalism and dedication of our doctors, nurses and health workers in the field who reached all and every district to ensure a future free of preventable blindness.”
Dr. Ahmed Zouiten, WHO Representative in Libya, emphasized the collaborative nature of the achievement: “Reaching trachoma elimination status in Libya is a testimony of what could be achieved when the Ministry of health teams and the WHO teams deliver as one. It is a collective public health triumph achieved through science, national mobilization and international solidarity.”
While Libya’s success is a cause for celebration, the global fight against trachoma continues. Approximately 103 million people in 30 countries still live in trachoma-endemic areas and remain at risk of blindness, affecting an estimated 1.9 million individuals worldwide. Continued investment in surveillance, treatment, and preventative measures is crucial to achieving global elimination.