WHO report reveals millions no longer at risk from trachoma

The number of people at risk from trachoma has fallen by more than 12 million in a single year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO’s report shows that the world is making progress towards eliminating the disease, with the number of at-risk people decreasing from 115 million people in 2023 to 103 million in 2024.

Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease that affects the eyes. Repeated infection can cause scarring to the underside of the eyelid, pulling the eyelashes inward so that they scrape against the eye with every blink. If untreated, it can lead to permanent blindness.

Caleb Mpyet, Sightsavers’ global technical lead for trachoma, said: “It’s encouraging that so many people are no longer at risk from this devastating condition. This is testament to the hard work of governments and health workers across the world, and particularly in Africa where the burden of the disease is greatest. I’m proud that our team at Sightsavers has been able to support these efforts.”

Sightsavers has been working alongside governments in Africa to tackle trachoma since 2001. So far, the organisation has helped to distribute nearly 200 million antibiotic treatments for the disease, and helped to manage more than 500,000 cases of advanced trachoma.

Sightsavers is also part of the Tropical Data consortium, which has worked with more than 50 countries on surveys to map the prevalence of trachoma and speed up efforts to eliminate the disease. These surveys help governments to focus their efforts in the right places, monitor the impact of their programmes, and confirm when the disease has been eliminated as a public health problem.

Caleb said: “We need to keep going until we have reached everyone who needs treatment. We will need to take innovative approaches to beat this disease, as many of these people are living in remote and conflict-ridden areas. If we can work together and overcome these challenges, then we have the chance to make history as the generation that eliminates trachoma globally.”