In a big win for health in Pakistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that trachoma is no longer a public health problem in the country. Trachoma is an eye disease caused by a germ called Chlamydia trachomatis. If people do not get treatment, it can lead to blindness that cannot be fixed.
With this achievement, Pakistan is now the 19th country in the world to reach this important goal. This success shows how committed the government is to public health and how much help they got from WHO and health workers. Many groups, like Sightsavers, Christian Blind Mission, and the Fred Hollows Foundation, also played a big part in this success.
This is a great step in the global fight against diseases that can be prevented. Back in 1997, Pakistan was the first country to be certified free from Guinea-worm disease. Now, with the trachoma gone, this shows that Pakistan can achieve even more in the future.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, said, “Eliminating trachoma as a public health problem is a huge win for Pakistan and the world.” He praised the hard work of health workers, especially those in communities. He noted that teamwork, new ideas, and a shared goal of better health are key to this success.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s Regional Director, congratulated Pakistan on this achievement, saying it shows the country’s dedication to health and serves as an inspiration for others. Dr. Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Pakistan, said, “This is an amazing achievement that will help save thousands of people from losing their sight.”
Pakistan’s success shows how well the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy works for getting rid of trachoma. This strategy includes surgery for eye problems, antibiotics to fight the infection, and keeping faces clean to prevent the spread of the disease. Pakistan’s success is a strong reminder that controlling and eliminating diseases like trachoma is possible.
