WHO Validates Tunisia as Having Eliminated Trachoma as Public Health Problem

The World Health Organization validated Tunisia on May 15, 2026 as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the 31st country worldwide and 14th in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this milestone. Trachoma was endemic in Tunisia in the early to mid-20th century, affecting at least half the population. Tunisia adopted the WHO SAFE strategy—Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement—through decades of sustained national effort.

Tunisia trachoma elimination validation

• ▪The World Health Organization validated Tunisia as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem on May 15, 2026
• ▪In the early to mid-20th century, trachoma was endemic in Tunisia, affecting at least half of the population, especially in its southern regions
• ▪Trachoma is the first neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Tunisia
• ▪Tunisia's trachoma elimination came after decades of sustained national effort
• ▪Dr Hanan Balkhy is WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean
• ▪Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is WHO Director-General
• ▪Tunisia becomes the 14th country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease
• ▪Dr Mustapha Ferjani is Minister of Health of Tunisia

Trachoma disease characteristics

• ▪Repeated trachoma infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated
• ▪Trachoma spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge
• ▪Trachoma is closely linked to limited access to water, sanitation and hygiene, and hits vulnerable populations hardest

SAFE strategy implementation

• ▪Tunisia ran nationwide screening and treatment campaigns for trachoma
• ▪Tunisia adopted and scaled up the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy for trachoma elimination
• ▪Tunisia integrated eye care into primary care and school health programmes

Post-validation surveillance system

• ▪Tunisia's post-validation surveillance system includes provision for ongoing case management and training of health professionals
• ▪Tunisia has a robust post-validation surveillance system in place to detect any return of trachoma disease at an early stage

Global trachoma elimination progress

• ▪Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem requires a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular in children aged 1-9 years of less than 5% in each formerly endemic district
• ▪The global target date for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide is 2030
• ▪The WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020) in 1996
• ▪Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis unknown to the health system of less than 0.2% in people aged 15 years and older