Trachoma, a bacterial eye infection, was a major cause of blindness among Indians in the late 1950s. However, recent reports indicate that India has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health emergency, a milestone achieved by only India and Myanmar in the region. The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulated India on this accomplishment.
An official certification was presented to Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, by Saima Wazed, Regional Director of WHO South East Asia during a meeting held in the national capital. This recognition highlights the significant progress made in combating trachoma in India.
Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection that primarily affects underprivileged communities living in poor environmental conditions. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis and is spread through contact with infected individuals. If left untreated, trachoma can lead to irreversible blindness.
According to the WHO, nearly 150 million people worldwide are affected by trachoma, with approximately six million individuals suffering from blindness as a result. India faced a high prevalence of trachoma during the 1950s and 1960s, prompting the launch of the National Trachoma Control Programme in 1963. Subsequent efforts to control trachoma were integrated into the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB).
Thanks to these initiatives, trachoma cases in India significantly declined over the years, reaching just one percent at present. In 2017, India was officially declared free from trachoma following the implementation of the WHO SAFE strategy nationwide. This strategy involved various measures such as surgery, antibiotics, facial hygiene, and environmental cleanliness to eliminate the disease.
Surveillance for trachoma cases continued in all districts of India from 2019 onwards, ensuring that the country remains trachoma-free. WHO’s acknowledgment of India’s successful elimination of trachoma as a public health issue underscores the effectiveness of the comprehensive approach taken to combat this contagious eye infection.
