Senegal eliminates the blinding disease, trachoma, as a public health problem
Senegal has eliminated the blinding disease trachoma as a public health problem. The news, confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) today (15 July 2025), means that more than nine million people in the country are no longer at risk of losing their sight to the disease. It also brings the WHO’s ambitious goal to eliminate trachoma globally, another step closer.
“I commend Senegal for freeing its population from this disease”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone is yet another sign of the remarkable progress being made against neglected tropical diseases globally, and offers hope to other countries still working to eliminate trachoma.”
Trachoma is caused by a bacterial infection. Repeated infections cause scarring in the eyelid which turns lashes inwards, scratching against the eye with every blink. People describe the pain as like having sand in their eyes and often resort to pulling out their eyelashes or shaving them.
Left untreated, trachoma can lead to permanent sight loss and prevents people from being able to get an education, earn a living and care for their families.
“Today we celebrate our victory against trachoma, 21 years after the one against dracunculiasis” said Dr Ibrahima Sy, Senegal’s Minister of Health and Social Action. “This new milestone reminds us that our overarching goal remains a Senegal free from neglected tropical diseases. We are fully committed to this, and we are making good progress, notably against human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and onchocerciasis”.
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Trachoma has been known in Senegal since the early 1900s and was confirmed as a major cause of blindness through surveys in the 1980s and 1990s.
Senegal implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma with the support of partners, reaching 2.8 million people who needed them across 24 districts. These activities included provision of surgery to treat the late blinding stage of the disease, conducting antibiotic mass drug administration of azithromycin donated by Pfizer through the International Trachoma Initiative, carrying out public awareness campaigns to promote facial cleanliness, and improvement in access to water supply and sanitation.