The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated on Sunday that India has been officially certified free from trachoma by the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a landmark public health accomplishment.
This milestone emphasizes the significance of healthy eyesight for every person and comes after years of devoted government work to preserve the vision of millions.
The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is the cause of trachoma, a highly contagious bacterial infection that is a leading cause of avoidable blindness globally.
The eye secretions of affected people are the main source of trachoma infection. Close physical contact, sharing personal belongings, and houseflies are some of the ways HPV can spread.
Poor hygiene habits, cramped living quarters, water scarcity, and inadequate sanitation facilities are environmental risk factors that facilitate the spread of trachoma.
Six million people are in danger of vision impairment, while the WHO estimates that 150 million people globally suffer from trachoma. Children frequently experience the infectious stages of the illness.
Repeated infections in children can lead to scarring on the inner surface of the upper eyelids, resulting in a painful condition known as trachomatous trichiasis, where the eyelid margin turns inward and causes the eyelashes to rub against the eyeball.
Serious visual impairment may result from trachomatous trichiasis if treatment is not received. According to research, it can take a person more than 150 infections in their lifetime to experience severe blindness trachoma consequences.
Trachoma was a major public health issue in India in the 1950s and 1960s, impacting more than 50% of the population in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Nicobar Islands.
In India, trachoma was responsible for 5% of all instances of blindness by 1971. The government responded to this urgent situation by enacting policies meant to solve it.
India implemented a number of significant initiatives under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) in recognition of the severity of the trachoma epidemic.
The WHO SAFE policy, which centered on treating current cases and avoiding future infections through better hygiene habits, was adopted at a crucial point in this endeavor.
India launched the National Trachoma Control Program, provided surgical treatment, and distributed antibiotics as part of its efforts to combat trachoma. The nation kept a close watch for trachoma incidence in every area between 2019 and 2024.
The hard-won status of being trachoma-free was maintained thanks to this continuous monitoring, demonstrating India's commitment to protecting eye health and averting preventable blindness.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised India’s commitment to alleviating suffering caused by trachoma, emphasizing the vital collaboration among the government, healthcare professionals, and international partners that made this milestone achievable.
While 39 other countries still struggle with trachoma, which affects over 1.9 million people worldwide and frequently results in irreversible blindness, India has joined Nepal, Myanmar, and 19 other countries in successfully eradicating the illness as a public health concern.
