Algeria Eliminates Trachoma, Becoming 29th Country Worldwide to End the Blinding Disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Algeria has wiped out trachoma as a public health crisis. This makes Algeria the 10th country in WHO’s African Region and the 29th country worldwide to reach this major milestone.

Trachoma is an eye infection and the top infectious cause of blindness around the world. The disease still exists in 30 countries and causes blindness or vision problems for about 1.9 million people. Current data shows that 97 million people live in areas where trachoma is common and remain at risk of going blind from it. The illness is caused by the bacterium *Chlamydia trachomatis*. It spreads when a person touches infected eye discharge on hands, clothing, or flies. Repeated infections can scar the inside of the upper eyelid. This forces the eyelashes to turn inward and scrape the eyeball, a painful condition called trachomatous trichiasis. This can lead to vision loss and blindness.

“Algeria’s elimination of trachoma is a historic triumph that connects the past, present, and future of public health, and is rooted in a century-long commitment,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone proves that with sustained political will and on-the-ground leadership from committed health professionals, we can eliminate neglected tropical diseases and build a healthier, more resilient future for all.”

Algeria’s fight against trachoma began in the early 1900s with the opening of the Pasteur Institute of Algeria in 1909. After the country gained independence, Algerian doctors led by Professor Mohamed Aouchiche took over the work. Their efforts got a boost in 1974 when the country created a national public healthcare system that started offering free services to patients.

For many years, Algeria used the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to get rid of trachoma. This included surgeries to treat the late blinding stage of the disease (trachomatous trichiasis), giving out antibiotics on a large scale, running public awareness campaigns to encourage face washing and personal hygiene, and improving access to clean water and sanitation.

To speed up elimination, Algeria launched a three-year plan from 2013 to 2015 and set up a National Expert Committee. The focus was on wiping out trachoma in 12 southern provinces: Adrar, Laghouat, Biskra, Béchar, Tamanrasset, Ouargla, El Bayadh, Illizi, Tindouf, El Oued, Naama, and Ghardaïa. These were the areas where the disease was still a public health problem.

Surveys that met WHO standards and were done in 2022 confirmed that all areas had reached the elimination goal for active trachoma. The goal for trachomatous trichiasis was met in all but three areas. In those three areas, health workers went door-to-door to screen everyone and treat trichiasis cases, making sure elimination was achieved.

In December 2025, Algeria’s Ministry of Health put together and sent a report showing proof that the country meets WHO’s criteria for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. Strong points include a well-functioning school health system, a health information system, wide access to water and sanitation, and broad coverage of specialized eye care across the country. These strengths help ensure the disease stays gone after validation.

“Trachoma devastates individuals and communities profoundly, with blindness or visual impairment causing painful economic and livelihood loss. The milestone by Algeria is a major achievement that transforms the health and well-being of children, women and entire families and demonstrates that eliminating neglected tropical diseases is possible with consistent and coordinated efforts,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

WHO recommends that surveillance continue even after elimination is validated. This means closely watching populations where trachoma used to be common to make sure the disease does not come back. WHO is currently helping Algeria’s health authorities with this effort.

“WHO’s validation marks the culmination of sustained efforts, exemplary multisectoral coordination, and enduring commitment. It attests to our country’s capacity to meet the most rigorous public health standards – standards grounded in prevention, equitable access to care, and the improvement of living conditions,” said Professor Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, Minister of Health. “This achievement represents a collective victory – the fruit of nearly fifty years of national mobilization – and underscores the Algerian State’s unwavering commitment to the health of its population. This success was made possible through the mobilization of all stakeholders, the dedication of health professionals, the support of key partners, and the technical assistance of the WHO.”

Neglected tropical diseases are a group of 21 different conditions that cause severe health, social, and economic problems. They affect more than one billion people worldwide and mostly hit poor communities in tropical areas. Public health goals for controlling, eliminating, and eradicating these diseases were laid out in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030.

Trachoma is the first neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Algeria. With this validation, Algeria becomes the 62nd country globally and the 23rd in the WHO African Region to have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease.