The number of individuals requiring interventions for trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide, has dropped below 100 million for the first time since tracking began. A significant reduction from approximately 1.5 billion people estimated to be at risk in 2002, the figure now stands at **97.1 million** as of November **2025**, marking a **94% decrease**. This achievement reflects extensive collaborative efforts by national health ministries, local communities, and international partners implementing the World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed SAFE strategy.
The SAFE strategy comprises four critical components: Surgery to address trachomatous trichiasis, Antibiotics to eliminate infection, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement to reduce transmission. Dr. **Daniel Ngamije Madandi**, Director of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO, remarked on this milestone, stating, “The reduction of the population requiring interventions to below 100 million is testament to strong country leadership and consistent implementation of the SAFE strategy.”
WHO’s commitment to eliminating trachoma as a public health issue by **2030** remains steadfast. Recently, **Egypt** and **Fiji** were validated as having successfully eliminated trachoma, bringing the total number of countries recognized by WHO to **27**, including nations from every trachoma-endemic region.
Partnerships Have Been Key
The global progress against trachoma has been bolstered by a diverse array of stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and donors. Many of these entities collaborate through the **International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC)**. Notably, **Pfizer Inc.** has donated over **1.1 billion doses** of azithromycin through the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), enabling health ministries to distribute vital medicines effectively.
Michaela Kelly, Chair of ICTC, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “The trachoma community is built on data and partnerships—elements that have enabled the SAFE strategy to be scaled up and helped drive this extraordinary reduction in trachoma globally.” Despite the significant progress, approximately **100 million** individuals remain at risk. To address funding gaps for surgery, antibiotics, surveys, and priority research, an estimated **$300 million** is necessary.
Mapping Initiatives Contribute to Success
Major initiatives like the **Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP)** and **Tropical Data** have played pivotal roles in the reduction of trachoma prevalence and the ability to track this decline accurately. The GTMP, conducted from **2012 to 2016**, represented the largest series of infectious disease surveys ever undertaken. It facilitated the collection of data from **2.6 million** individuals across **29 countries** using advanced technology.
Tropical Data has continued this momentum since **2016**, supporting over **4,000 surveys** across **55 countries** and examining more than **13.1 million** people. The data generated has been crucial for targeting interventions and providing the necessary evidence for elimination efforts. Since **2012**, a person has been examined for trachoma approximately every **25 seconds** through these initiatives.
Individual Efforts Make a Difference
Dr. **PJ Hooper**, Director of ITI, highlighted the human stories behind this achievement, stating, “Behind every milestone are millions of individual stories of people whose sight has been protected.” He attributed this progress to the relentless efforts of health ministries, local communities, and partners striving to implement the SAFE strategy effectively.
Efforts to eradicate trachoma align with **Sustainable Development Goal 3.3**, which aims to end the epidemic of neglected tropical diseases by **2030**. The countries validated for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem include **Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu**, and **Vietnam**.
As the global community approaches the ambitious target of eliminating trachoma, continued collaboration and investment remain essential to ensure that the progress made is not only sustained but expanded.
