Pecohub The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Senegal free of trachoma as a public health problem, making it the ninth country in the WHO African Region to eliminate the disease and the 25th globally.
Trachoma is a painful bacterial eye infection that can cause irreversible blindness.
In a statement released on its website on Tuesday, the WHO says the breakthrough was made possible by decades of sustained national effort, strategic partnerships, and adherence to WHO-recommended strategies.
“I commend Senegal for freeing its population from this disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone is yet another sign of the remarkable progress being made against neglected tropical diseases globally, and offers hope to other countries still working to eliminate trachoma.”
How Senegal Beat Trachoma
The country implemented WHO’s SAFE strategy; Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement, reaching 2.8 million people across 24 endemic districts.
Interventions included mass administration of Pfizer-donated azithromycin, eye surgeries for advanced cases, public health campaigns, and infrastructure upgrades in water and sanitation.
Senegal Health Minister, Dr Ibrahima Sy, explained that the success was part of a broader public health vision:
“Today we celebrate our victory against trachoma, 21 years after the one against Guinea-worm disease. This new milestone reminds us that our overarching goal remains a Senegal free from all neglected tropical diseases.”
Senegal joined the Global Elimination of Trachoma Alliance in 1998, mapped the disease by 2017, and integrated trachoma control into national eye health programmes over two decades.
“Today, we close a chapter that began over a hundred years ago,” said Dr Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative in Senegal. “This validation is not only a milestone for public health but a tribute to frontline health workers, communities, and partners who never gave up.”
A Regional and Global Perspective
Trachoma remains a serious public health issue in 32 countries, with 103 million people still at risk, 90% of them in Africa. WHO reports that the number of people requiring antibiotics in the African Region dropped by 51% between 2014 and 2024, from 189 million to 93 million.
According to the WHO, while 20 African countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Chad, still require intervention, three others, Botswana, Guinea-Bissau, and Namibia, claim to have met elimination targets.
WHO pledged commitment to continue to support Senegal in monitoring formerly endemic communities to prevent resurgence and sustain its success.
Countries That Have Eliminated Trachoma
In addition to Senegal, 24 other countries, including Ghana, India, Morocco, Mexico, Gambia, and China, have been validated by WHO for trachoma elimination. All are part of a broader cohort of 57 countries that have eliminated at least one NTD.
