Australia Becomes 30th Country to Eliminate Trachoma, Leading Cause of Infectious Blindness
Indigenous leadership, community health workers and decades of investment helped end the disease, which WHO says still affects more than 1 billion people worldwide.
- The World Health Organization has officially validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking the first time WHO has confirmed elimination of a neglected tropical disease in the country.
- Trachoma, the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in Australia, making the nation the 63rd country globally to eliminate at least one neglected tropical disease.
- The National Trachoma Management Programme, established in 2006, implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy while Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations delivered culturally safe care in remote communities.
- "Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health," said Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler, attributing success to sustained Indigenous leadership and community commitment over decades.
- Lessons from this work will inform approaches to other preventable health conditions, though Australia continues combating endemic neglected tropical diseases including Buruli ulcer and leprosy.
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Australia Eliminates Trachoma As A Public Health Issue, India Did It In 2024; Here's How
Australia has become the 30th country to eliminate trachoma, a leading infectious cause of blindness. India achieved the same milestone in 2024. Here's how sustained public health action, hygiene, and the WHO SAFE strategy made it possible.
WHO validates Australia for eliminating trachoma as public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of Indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Australia Eliminates Trachoma, Ending Infectious Blindness Threat After Decades of Indigenous Health Efforts
"This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities." Australia has become the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, with the World Health Organization confirming that the infectious eye disease, once a major cause of preventable blindness in remote Indigenous communities, no...
WHO: Australia has eliminated trachoma
The elimination of trachoma in Australia follows similar success in Fiji and PNG. Image: Shea Flynn/RTI International.The World Health Organisation has confirmed Australia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, a landmark achievement for people and communities and a significant step in preventing avoidable vision loss. Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of preventable blindness. In Australia, trachoma is found primaril…
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