World Health Organization Certifies Egypt Free of Trachoma

The World Health Organization has officially certified Egypt free of trachoma as a public health problem, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presenting the certification to Deputy Health Minister Amr Kandil during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

With the certification, Egypt becomes the seventh country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate trachoma, a disease considered one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide.

During a live broadcast, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the recognition follows Egypt receiving international certification as malaria-free last year.

Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said the certification confirms that trachoma no longer represents a public health problem in Egypt, adding that preventive measures and surveillance programmes will continue to maintain the country’s status.

According to Deputy Health Minister Amr Kandil, neglected tropical diseases are often associated with inadequate sanitation infrastructure and limited access to clean water and wastewater services. He also pointed to the impact of the Hayah Karima programme in improving living conditions in rural areas and reducing the spread of such diseases.

The announcement also referenced Egypt’s long historical association with trachoma stretching back thousands of years, alongside early organised treatment efforts led by ophthalmologist Arthur MacCallan during the early 20th century through mobile and permanent eye hospitals.