Algeria Achieves Major Public Health Milestone: Trachoma Officially Eliminated

Algeria has reached a historic milestone in global health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated that Algeria has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. This achievement makes Algeria the 10th country in the WHO African Region and the 29th country globally to reach this significant goal.

This success marks a turning point for the nation’s healthcare system and serves as a blueprint for the elimination of other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) across the continent.

A Historic Triumph for Public Health

The elimination of trachoma is the result of decades of sustained effort and medical leadership. Algeria’s commitment to controlling the disease dates back to the early 20th century, and efforts were significantly bolstered after independence. A key component of this progress was the introduction of free public health services in 1974, which ensured that care was accessible to the entire population.

The validation follows a rigorous process. In December 2025, the Algerian Ministry of Health submitted comprehensive evidence to the WHO demonstrating compliance with all elimination criteria. This evidence was supported by robust health, school, and eye-care systems, as well as reliable access to water and sanitation.

“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.”

Understanding Trachoma: The Path to Blindness

Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It remains a significant global threat, currently endemic in 30 countries. The disease is a leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide, responsible for visual impairment or total blindness in approximately 1.9 million people.

The infection spreads through direct personal contact—via hands, clothing, or bedding—or through flies that have been in contact with infected eye or nose discharge. If left untreated, repeated infections can cause scarring of the inner eyelid. This leads to a painful condition known as trachomatous trichiasis (TT), where the eyelashes turn inward and rub against the surface of the eye, eventually causing permanent blindness.

The scale of the challenge is immense. According to data from November 2025, an estimated 97 million people live in trachoma-endemic areas and remain at risk of blindness.

The SAFE Strategy: How Algeria Succeeded

Algeria’s success is largely attributed to the consistent implementation of the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy. This multi-pronged approach addresses both the biological and environmental drivers of the disease:

• S – Surgery: Providing surgical interventions to treat the late, blinding stage of the disease (trachomatous trichiasis).
• A – Antibiotics: Conducting mass administration of antibiotic treatments to reduce the bacterial load in the community.
• F – Facial cleanliness: Running public awareness campaigns to promote personal hygiene and facial cleanliness.
• E – Environmental improvement: Enhancing access to clean water supplies and improved sanitation to limit the spread of infection.

To accelerate these efforts, Algeria implemented a targeted three-year strategy between 2013 and 2015, supported by a National Expert Committee to focus on regions where the disease remained most prevalent.

The Broader Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases

Trachoma is the first neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in Algeria. This achievement places the country in an elite group; Algeria is now the 62nd country globally and the 23rd in the WHO African Region to have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease.

Neglected tropical diseases comprise a diverse group of 21 conditions that affect more than one billion people worldwide, primarily in impoverished communities. The elimination of these diseases is a core component of the global public health roadmap for 2021–2030.

Next Steps: Maintaining the Victory

While the validation is a cause for celebration, the work is not over. The WHO recommends continued surveillance to monitor populations where trachoma was previously endemic. This ensures that the disease does not resurge. The WHO is currently working alongside Algerian health authorities to support the country through this post-validation phase.

Key Takeaways

• Global Milestone: Algeria is the 29th country globally to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem.
• Disease Impact: Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and is a leading infectious cause of blindness.
• Proven Method: The success was driven by the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement).
• NTD Progress: This is Algeria’s first eliminated neglected tropical disease, making it the 62nd country globally to achieve such a milestone.