WHO Declares Libya Free of Trachoma as Public Health Threat

The World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a major public health milestone for the country and the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease and a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, has affected communities in Libya for more than a century. The WHO’s validation confirms that Libya has successfully reduced infection and complication rates below the thresholds required for elimination.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, praised the achievement, describing it as a hard-won success that will protect future generations from avoidable blindness.

“This achievement is a powerful reminder that countries can defeat neglected tropical diseases even amid ongoing challenges,” Tedros said, adding that Libya’s success reflects strong national commitment and demonstrates that progress is possible everywhere.

For her part, Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said that with this certification, Libya becomes the 28th country globally and the eighth in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem.

She noted that the milestone highlights the effectiveness of evidence-based programs and coordinated technical support, even in settings affected by humanitarian pressures and migration dynamics. Libya’s achievement, she said, reflects strong regional coordination and sustained national perseverance.

Trachoma has been documented in Libya for over 100 years, with surveys in the 20th century showing high levels of active infection, particularly in southern regions. Early control efforts by the Ministry of Health in the 1970s and 1980s, followed by broader health system strengthening, led to a significant decline in transmission.

In 2017, Libya formally prioritized trachoma elimination under its National Program for the Prevention of Blindness. With support from the WHO, Sightsavers, the International Trachoma Initiative, and Tropical Data, comprehensive surveys were conducted in 2022 across six southern districts suspected of ongoing transmission.