Egypt eliminates trachoma as a public health problem

Egypt has been officially recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the 7th country in WHO Eastern Mediterranean region and the 27th globally to reach this milestone. This achievement means that millions of people across Egypt are now protected from a disease that once caused pain, vision loss, and lifelong disability. For decades, trachoma was one of Egypt’s major causes of preventable blindness.

How Egypt got here

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), and with technical and financial support from partners including CBM, Sightsavers, WHO, the Magrabi and Nourseen Foundations, Tropical Data, and the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI):

  • 1998: A national survey in Menofiya Governorate confirmed that trachoma was still widespread among children. The Ministry of Health officially recognised trachoma as a public health problem.
  • 2001: Egypt piloted the SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial Cleanliness, and Environmental Improvement) in Tokh Tanbesha village. This pilot provided evidence that trachoma could be controlled through coordinated action.
  • 2015: The Ministry conducted population-based surveys in four districts across Al Minya and Beni Suwayf governorates, identifying areas still affected by trachoma.
  • 2019: The first mass drug administration (MDA) campaign was carried out in Mattay District, Al Minya, with antibiotics provided through ITI.
  • 2022–2024: Following a stakeholder meeting in Cairo, the Ministry of Health relaunched the national trachoma elimination programme, which CBM and other partners supported. A national coordination committee was established, and progress focused on training ophthalmologists, establishing a national surveillance system, expanding health education in schools, and integrating trachoma into Egypt’s national eye health curriculum. Environmental improvements also advanced under the Hayah Karima initiative.
  • With continued support from a consortium of partners including CBM, Egypt achieved WHO validation in 2025.

CBM’s contribution to this milestone

CBM provided targeted technical and financial support to the national programme. This collaboration built on earlier partnerships across the region to share lessons and strengthen national capacities.

Through CBM’s leadership in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) Trachoma Alliance, we facilitated knowledge sharing between countries within the region, empowering countries like Egypt and Pakistan to draw on regional and global resources for trachoma elimination.

A shared success story

Egypt’s success shows what is possible when national leadership, sustained commitment, and true country ownership come together, supported by local health teams and global partners working with a shared purpose. It also brings new momentum to the global movement to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases by 2030.

CBM congratulates the Government of Egypt, the Ministry of Health and Population, the health workers and partners who contributed to this remarkable milestone.