Viet Nam Successfully Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on October 21, 2024, that Viet Nam has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in global health. Key Highlights:
- Viet Nam implemented the WHO’s SAFE strategy, which stands for surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement.
- By 2023, the prevalence of the blinding form of trachoma in Viet Nam’s high-risk areas dropped to below 0.2%, meeting WHO’s threshold for elimination.
- Viet Nam is the seventh country to be acknowledged by WHO for eliminating one Neglected Tropical Disease in the course of 2024.
- Globally, Viet Nam joins 20 other countries that have been validated by WHO for having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.
This achievement highlights Viet Nam’s decades-long efforts, including rigorous control measures and treatment of hundreds of thousands of people, supported by international partners like The Fred Hollows Foundation. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it a “monumental achievement,” emphasizing the power of collective action.
Reference: World Health Organization. “Viet Nam eliminates trachoma as a public health problem.” WHO News, 21 October 2024, https://www.who.int/news/item/21-10-2024-viet-nam-eliminates-trachoma-as-a-public-health-problem
