Egypt Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Problem

• Global Health
• November 12, 2025

Egypt becomes the seventh country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem

This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a monumental public health achievement: Egypt has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. This victory is a testament to decades of tireless effort and a powerful example of multi-disciplinary collaboration in action.

Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, a painful and debilitating disease that has affected millions in the most vulnerable communities. The fact that it is now eliminated in Egypt is not just a policy win—it is a profound medical and scientific milestone.

The "SAFE" Strategy: Where Science Meets Action

This success was driven by the WHO-endorsed "SAFE" strategy, which perfectly illustrates the partnership between medical and pharmaceutical sciences:

• Surgery: Providing corrective surgery for patients with the advanced, blinding stage of the disease (trichiasis).
• Antibiotics: This is the pharmaceutical cornerstone. The development and mass distribution of effective antibiotics, like single-dose azithromycin, were essential to clear the underlying infection from entire communities.
• Facial Cleanliness: A medical and educational pillar, promoting hygiene to prevent transmission.
• Environmental Improvement: Ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, a foundational public health measure.

Egypt's achievement showcases what is possible when pharmaceutical innovation—developing stable, effective, and easily-administered antibiotics—is combined with robust, on-the-ground medical science and a dedicated public health workforce.

A Blueprint for the Future

While we celebrate this win, the work continues. This success provides a blueprint for tackling other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It reinforces the need for continued innovation in pharmacology, faster diagnostic tools, and stronger global partnerships to get treatments and interventions to the people who need them most.

This is the "why" behind our work. The complex research discussed in labs and at conferences leads to tangible, life-changing outcomes like this.