WHO Confirms Libya's Triumph Over Trachoma Public Health Issue

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant victory for public health in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. This hard-won achievement safeguards future generations from preventable blindness and serves as a powerful reminder that countries can triumph over neglected tropical diseases despite ongoing challenges.

"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,” said 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.”

With this validation, Libya becomes the 28th country in the world and the 8th in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate trachoma. This achievement illustrates how evidence-based programming and coordinated technical support can successfully address neglected tropical diseases, even in the context of complex humanitarian and migration situations.

“Libya joins a growing group of countries from the Eastern Mediterranean Region that have eliminated trachoma,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “This result reflects strong regional coordination and Libya’s perseverance during periods of great challenge.”

Trachoma has been documented in Libya for over a century, with surveys in the 20th century reporting high levels of active (inflammatory) trachoma in communities across the country, particularly in the south. Following initial efforts by the Ministry of Health to control infectious eye diseases in the 1970s and 1980s, and subsequent strengthening of the health system, surveys indicated that transmission had declined significantly.

In 2017, the Ministry of Health prioritized the elimination of trachoma as part of its national eye health initiatives within the National Prevention of Blindness Programme. With support from the WHO, Sightsavers, the International Trachoma Initiative, and Tropical Data, new surveys were conducted in 2022 across six southern districts where the persistence of trachoma was suspected. These surveys revealed that the prevalence of active trachoma and trichiasis (a condition linked to trachoma) was below the WHO's elimination thresholds, except for trichiasis in Wadi Al Hayaa/Ghat, where a trichiasis surgery campaign was subsequently implemented. In 2025, a follow-up survey confirmed that the prevalence of trichiasis had fallen below the WHO’s elimination threshold.

Libya’s achievement is particularly notable given years of political instability and humanitarian challenges that have strained health services, displaced populations, and increased demand for basic services, including water, sanitation, and hygiene. Despite these pressures, the national trachoma elimination program successfully integrated surveillance, expanded access to surgical care, built capacity among eye health workers, and partnered with national and international stakeholders.

"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 every district to ensure a future free of preventable blindness."

Throughout the years, the WHO Country Office in Libya has provided extensive technical and operational support to prevent, detect, and control diseases, ensuring the best possible health and well-being in the country. “Reaching trachoma elimination status in Libya is a testament to what can be achieved when the Ministry of Health teams and the WHO teams work together. It is a collective public health triumph accomplished through science, national mobilization, and international solidarity,” said Dr. Ahmed Zouiten, WHO Representative in Libya.

Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is spread through contact with infected eye discharge via hands, clothing, or flies. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the inner eyelid, causing eyelashes to turn inward and scratch the eyeball—a painful condition known as trichiasis that can result in blindness.

Globally, the disease remains endemic in many vulnerable communities where access to water and sanitation is limited. In 1996, the WHO launched the Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. The WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress toward the global goal of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide.

Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of 21 conditions linked to severe health, social, and economic repercussions. They impact one billion people worldwide, with their prevalence largely concentrated in impoverished communities in tropical regions.

Public health targets for the control, elimination, and eradication of these conditions were established in the roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030. In 2025 alone, nine countries were validated, verified, or certified by the WHO for achieving these targets. Following the validation of the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem, Libya becomes the 59th country globally and the 10th in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease.