WHO declares that India abolished trachoma as a public health problem in 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the Government of India has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem and has become the third country in the Southeast Asian region to achieve this milestone. Smt. Saima Wazed, Regional Director, South East Asia, WHO presented an official certificate to Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at a meeting of the Regional Committee on South East Asia, Who held in New Delhi today
Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Trachoma is contagious, spread through contact with the eyes, eyes, nose, or throat of an infected person, causing irreversible blindness if left untreated.
Who called trachoma a neglected tropical disease. The WHO estimates that 150 million people worldwide are affected by trachoma and 6 million of them are at risk of blind or visually impaired complications. Trachoma occurs in poor communities living in poor environments.
Trachoma was the leading cause of blindness in the country in 1950-60. The Government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Programme in 1963 and subsequently trachoma control efforts were included in india’s National Blindness Control Programme (NPCB)
In 1971, the blindness due to trachoma was 5%, and today it has come down to less than 1% due to various interventions under the National Blindness Control Programme (NPCBVI).
In 1971, the blindness due to trachoma was 5%, and today it has come down to less than 1% due to various interventions under the National Blindness Control Programme (NPCBVI). Who Safe Strategy was implemented across the country in which SAFE means adoption of surgeries, antibiotics, facial hygiene, environmental hygiene etc. As a result, India was declared infectious trachoma-free in 2017. However, from 2019 to 2024, trachoma patients were monitored in all districts of India.
The National Trachomatous trichiasis (TT only) survey was conducted in 200 districts of the country from 2021-24 under the NPCBVI, which was a directive set by the WHO to declare India trachoma as a public health problem.
All the reports were compiled by the NPCBVI team in a specified dossier format and shared with the WHO country office for final verification. After fighting trachoma for many years, finally, read more
