The global population requiring interventions against trachoma has fallen below 100 million for the first time since records began. As of November 2025, the number stands at 97.1 million, a significant decline from an estimated 1.5 billion individuals at risk in 2002. This milestone marks a 94% reduction, reflecting ongoing efforts over decades to combat this leading infectious cause of blindness.
The decline in trachoma cases is attributed to the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed SAFE strategy. This approach includes Surgery to address trachomatous trichiasis, Antibiotics to clear infections, and initiatives for Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement. Dr. Daniel Ngamije Madandi, Director of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO, emphasized the importance of strong country leadership in achieving this outcome. “The reduction of the population requiring interventions to below 100 million is testament to strong country leadership and consistent implementation of the SAFE strategy,” he stated.
Global Progress and Partnerships
The WHO has validated 27 countries as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, including Egypt and Fiji, which received validation recently. This reflects progress in every WHO region where trachoma is endemic. The collaborative efforts of national health ministries, local communities, and international partners such as the International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC) have played a significant role in this achievement.
The ICTC has facilitated coordination among a diverse range of stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and donors. Notably, Pfizer Inc. has contributed over 1.1 billion doses of azithromycin through the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), enhancing the capacity of health ministries to distribute essential medicines effectively.
Michaela Kelly, Chair of ICTC, noted, “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 progress, she cautioned that nearly 100 million people remain at risk and highlighted the need for approximately US$ 300 million to address funding gaps essential for surgery, antibiotics, surveys, and priority research aimed at achieving the 2030 elimination target.
Innovative Initiatives and Future Goals
Major initiatives like the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) and Tropical Data have also been crucial in tracking the decline of trachoma. The GTMP, conducted between 2012 and 2016, was the largest series of infectious disease surveys ever undertaken. It utilized innovative methods, training health ministries from protocol development to data analysis and approval. By its conclusion, survey teams had collected data from 2.6 million people across 29 countries using Android smartphones.
Following GTMP, Tropical Data has facilitated over 4,000 surveys across 55 countries, examining more than 13.1 million individuals. This data has proven invaluable in targeting interventions and providing evidence for elimination strategies. Since 2012, an average of one person has been examined for trachoma every 25 seconds through these initiatives.
“Behind every milestone are millions of individual stories of people whose sight has been protected,” said PJ Hooper, Director of ITI. He emphasized that the progress made is the result of the dedicated work of health ministries, local communities, and partners who have collaborated closely to implement the SAFE strategy.
Efforts to eliminate trachoma align with Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which aims to end the epidemic of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The NTD roadmap for 2021-2030 also targets the global elimination of trachoma by 2030. The validation of countries like Egypt and Fiji underscores the potential for sustained progress in the fight against this preventable cause of blindness.
As global health organizations and stakeholders continue to collaborate, the hope remains strong that trachoma can be eliminated as a public health issue, bringing relief and improved quality of life to millions worldwide.
