The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated that Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a major public health milestone in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This achievement protects future generations from preventable blindness and demonstrates that neglected tropical diseases can be overcome even amid complex humanitarian and migration challenges. With this validation, Libya becomes the 28th country worldwide and the 8th in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate trachoma, highlighting the impact of evidence-based programming and coordinated technical support.
Trachoma has been present in Libya for over a century, particularly affecting southern communities, but sustained efforts by the Ministry of Health since the 1970s, supported by WHO and partners such as Sightsavers, the International Trachoma Initiative, and Tropical Data, have drastically reduced transmission. National surveys conducted in 2022 and 2025 confirmed that both active trachoma and trichiasis prevalence fell below WHO elimination thresholds, with targeted surgery campaigns addressing remaining cases.
Libya’s success is especially notable given years of political instability and humanitarian pressures that strained health services and displaced populations. Despite these challenges, the national trachoma elimination program expanded access to surgical care, strengthened surveillance, built capacity among eye health workers, and collaborated with national and international partners. Officials credit the achievement to the dedication of health workers and communities who ensured services reached every district.
Trachoma, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, spreads through contact with infected eye discharge and repeated infections can lead to trichiasis, a painful condition that may result in blindness. Globally, the disease remains endemic in vulnerable communities lacking adequate water and sanitation. Libya’s validation follows broader WHO efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases, which affect over one billion people worldwide. With this milestone, Libya becomes the 59th country globally and the 10th in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate at least one neglected tropical disease, demonstrating the power of science, national mobilization, and international solidarity in achieving public health goals.
