Waving Goodbye to This Eye Disease!

Following decades of concerted efforts, Vietnam managed to successfully eradicate trachoma as a public health problem, preventing millions of citizens from falling prey to the world’s leading cause of blindness.

“The elimination of trachoma in Vietnam demonstrates the commitment of the Government, health workers, and communities across the country,” states Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, Regional Director for the Western Pacific for the World Health Organization (WHO). “It is a shining example of how targeted interventions, strong partnerships, and sustained effort can bring about real change in the health of populations.”  

For 70 years, the Southeast Asian country collaborated with WHO to combat trachoma, mainly through the SAFE strategy, which stands for surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Thirty years ago, 1.7% of adult citizens living in high-risk provinces needed surgery to prevent blindness from trachoma, and by 2023, this proportion of adults had fallen below 0.2%. Trachoma falls within the category of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Vietnam is one of seven countries – along with Brazil, Chad, India, Jordan, Pakistan, and Timor-Leste – to be acknowledged by WHO for eliminating one NTD in 2024.