The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated Tunisia as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a major achievement in the country’s public health history. The milestone reflects decades of continuous national efforts aimed at controlling and preventing one of the world’s leading infectious causes of blindness.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Tunisia on the achievement, describing it as proof that strong political commitment, effective primary healthcare systems, and coordinated teamwork can successfully eliminate serious infectious diseases. He emphasized that Tunisia’s success demonstrates how even longstanding public health challenges such as trachoma can be overcome through sustained action.
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The disease spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies carrying eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can cause scarring inside the eyelids, eventually leading to blindness if left untreated. Historically, trachoma was widespread across Tunisia during the early and mid-20th century, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in southern regions of the country.
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Hanan Balkhy also praised Tunisia’s achievement, noting that it reflects years of sustained commitment toward eliminating preventable blindness and improving public health outcomes. She highlighted Tunisia’s long-term focus on prevention, healthcare access, and disease control.
Tunisia’s success was largely driven by its implementation of the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy. This approach includes surgery for advanced disease cases, antibiotics to treat infections, facial cleanliness to reduce disease transmission, and environmental improvements such as better access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The country also carried out nationwide screening and treatment campaigns while integrating eye care services into primary healthcare and school health programmes.
Tunisia’s Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani described the validation as a historic moment for the country. He credited generations of healthcare workers, local communities, and national institutions for expanding healthcare access, strengthening prevention systems, and improving eye health services throughout Tunisia. He also reaffirmed Tunisia’s commitment to maintaining the progress achieved and protecting future generations from the disease.
The elimination effort was led by Tunisia’s Ministry of Health with support from WHO and international partners. Strong public health infrastructure, expanded primary healthcare access, and major improvements in water and sanitation coverage played critical roles in reducing disease transmission and lowering infection rates across the country.
To ensure that the disease does not return, Tunisia has established a comprehensive post-validation surveillance system. The system is designed to detect any new cases at an early stage while continuing case management and healthcare worker training programmes. These measures aim to preserve the country’s elimination status over the long term.
Acting WHO Representative in Tunisia Ahmed Zouiten stated that the achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of science-based public health strategies and coordinated technical support in overcoming neglected tropical diseases. He noted that the partnership between Tunisia’s Ministry of Health and WHO was central to achieving this important public health milestone.
Tunisia’s validation contributes to broader global efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. WHO continues supporting countries through international initiatives focused on controlling and eliminating diseases such as trachoma worldwide.
The report also explained that trachoma elimination is officially defined by WHO using several health indicators. These include maintaining extremely low rates of trachomatous trichiasis in adults, reducing active infection rates among children in formerly affected areas, and maintaining systems capable of identifying and managing new cases.
Tunisia is now the 31st country globally to be validated by WHO for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. It also becomes the 14th country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate at least one neglected tropical disease. Trachoma is the first neglected tropical disease to be officially eliminated in Tunisia, representing a major step forward for the country’s healthcare system and public health achievements.
