The World Health Organisation has validated Algeria’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem, making it the 10th country in the WHO’s African Region and the 29th globally to achieve the status.

Affecting the eye, trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Globally, the disease remains endemic in 30 countries and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people.

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,” WHO boss Tedros Ghebreyesus said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the latest figures, 97 million people live in trachoma endemic areas and are at risk of trachoma blindness. The disease is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which is spread through contact with infected eye discharge via hands, clothing, or flies.

Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the inner part of the upper eyelid, turning eyelashes inward to scratch the eyeball: a painful condition known as trachomatous trichiasis that can lead to visual impairment and blindness.

Algeria’s fight against trachoma dates back to the early 20th century with the establishment of the Pasteur Institute of Algeria in 1909.

After independence, Algerian physicians, led by Mohamed Aouchiche, took charge of this work. Their efforts were strengthened by the creation of a national public healthcare system that began to provide services free of charge to patients in 1974.

For decades, Algeria implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE Strategy to eliminate trachoma.

These activities included providing surgery to treat the late blinding stage of the disease (trachomatous trichiasis), administering mass antibiotic treatment, conducting public awareness campaigns to promote facial cleanliness and personal hygiene, and improving access to water supply and sanitation.

To accelerate trachoma elimination, Algeria implemented a three-year strategy in 2013–2015 and established a National Expert Committee.

The focus was on eliminating trachoma in 12 southern wilayas (provinces), including Adrar, Laghouat, Biskra, Béchar, Tamanrasset, Ouargla, El Bayadh, Illizi, Tindouf, El Oued, Naama, and Ghardaïa, where the disease remained a public health problem.

WHO-compliant surveys conducted in 2022 confirmed that the elimination threshold for active trachoma was achieved in all areas, and the TT threshold was achieved in all but three areas.

In those three areas, full geographic coverage with door-to-door screening and management of TT cases was subsequently implemented to ensure TT elimination.

In December 2025, Algeria’s health ministry compiled and submitted a dossier containing evidence that the country meets the WHO criteria for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem.

The existence of a well-functioning school health system, a health information system, broad access to water and sanitation, and extensive coverage of specialised eye care throughout the country are notable strengths, as they provide assurance for the post-validation period in the country.

WHO recommends that surveillance continue even after validation of elimination, with the aim of closely monitoring populations previously endemic for trachoma to ensure there is no resurgence.

(NAN)