Century-Old Cause of Blindness Defeated

Libya has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, protecting future generations from preventable blindness caused by one of the world’s oldest infectious eye diseases.

“This validation is a source of pride for Libya and a testament to the commitment of our health workers and communities,” said Mohamed Al-Ghoj, Libya’s Acting Minister of Health.

Trachoma had affected communities in Libya for more than a century, particularly in southern regions. National eye-health programmes, expanded surveys, and targeted surgery campaigns reduced infection levels below international thresholds, making Libya the 28th country worldwide and the eighth in the Eastern Mediterranean region to eliminate the disease. This contributed to a global effort against neglected tropical diseases that still affect around 1 billion people.