WHO Declares India Trachoma-Free: A Milestone in Public Health

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Trachoma?
• Why was trachoma such a challenge in India?
• How did Indian govt address the issue of Trachoma?
• What does WHO declaring India trachoma-free mean?

Why in News?

• World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that the Government of India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem. With this, India has become the third country in the South-East Asia Region to achieve this milestone.

What is Trachoma?

• About
  • Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness globally.
  • It caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, and is spread by direct or indirect contact with eye or nose discharges, especially in young children. 
  • In endemic areas, up to 90% of preschool-aged children can be affected, with infection declining with age. 
• Symptoms
  • Repeated infections over time can lead to scarring inside the eyelid, causing the eyelashes to rub against the eye (trachomatous trichiasis), which leads to pain, corneal scarring, and ultimately blindness. 
  • Women are at higher risk due to frequent contact with infected children.
• Transmission factors and prevalence
  • Transmission factors include inadequate hygiene, crowded living conditions, and limited access to clean water and sanitation. 
  • WHO has termed Trachoma as a neglected tropical disease. 
  • WHO estimates suggest that 150 million people worldwide are affected by Trachoma and 6 million of them are blind or at risk of visually disabling complications. 
  • It remains prevalent in rural areas of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Middle East, with Africa being the worst affected.
• Efforts to eliminate trachoma
  • Global efforts to eliminate trachoma are driven by WHO’s SAFE strategy, which includes:
    • Surgery for trichiasis,
    • Antibiotics like azithromycin for mass treatment,
    • Facial cleanliness, and
    • Environmental improvements, such as better water and sanitation access.
  • WHO adopted the SAFE strategy in 1993 and launched the WHO Alliance for Global Elimination of Trachoma in 1996. 
  • The World Health Assembly has set 2030 as the new target date for eliminating trachoma as a public health issue globally.
    • By October 2024, 20 countries had eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. 
    • Economic losses from blindness and visual impairment due to trachoma are estimated at $2.9–5.3 billion annually.

Why was trachoma such a challenge in India?

• High Prevalence in Specific States
  • Trachoma posed a significant challenge in India as it frequently resurfaced in new communities. 
  • It was a leading cause of blindness in hyper-endemic regions like Punjab, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Garhwal (Uttarakhand) between 1971 and 1974, where the prevalence exceeded 50%. 
  • These areas were heavily impacted by the disease, making control efforts difficult.
• Reduction in Trachoma Prevalence
  • By 2005, trachoma accounted for only 4% of blindness cases in India. 
  • A survey conducted in 2006-2007 indicated a significant decline in prevalence, prompting the Indian government to conduct a rapid assessment in hyper-endemic states.

How did Indian govt address the issue of Trachoma?

• Trachoma was amongst the leading cause of blindness in the country during 1950-60. 
• The Government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963 and later on Trachoma control efforts were integrated into India’s National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB).
• In 1971, blindness due to Trachoma was 5% and today, owing to the various interventions under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), it has come down to less than 1%. 
• WHO SAFE strategy was implemented throughout the country wherein SAFE stands for adoption of surgery, antibiotics, facial hygiene, environmental cleanliness etc. 
• As a result, in 2017, India was declared free from infective Trachoma. 
• However, surveillance continued for trachoma cases in all the districts of India from 2019 onwards till 2024.
  • Programs like Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission played a vital role in eradicating the disease and ensuring a trachoma-free future.
• Validation and Elimination
  • The National Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT only) Survey was conducted from 2021 to 2024 across 200 endemic districts as part of the NPCBVI, following WHO's guidelines for trachoma elimination. 
  • The NPCBVI team compiled all findings into a dossier, which was submitted to the WHO for final review. 
  • After years of dedicated efforts, WHO officially declared that India had successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

What does WHO declaring India trachoma-free mean?

• WHO declaring India trachoma-free signifies a major public health achievement, marking an improvement in the country's water, sanitation, and hygiene standards. 
• According to experts, trachoma is often linked to poor sanitation, a common issue in developing countries. 
• With its elimination, India has reached "gold-tier" public health status, demonstrating significant progress in addressing these challenges and enhancing overall health conditions.

Q.1. How did India eliminate trachoma as a public health problem?

India eliminated trachoma through the implementation of WHO's SAFE strategy, including surgery, antibiotic distribution, hygiene promotion, and sanitation improvements, supported by initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Jal Jeevan Mission.

Q.2. What does WHO’s declaration of India being trachoma-free signify?

WHO's declaration marks a major public health achievement for India, reflecting significant improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene standards, helping the country reach a "gold-tier" public health status.

Source: WHO declares that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem in 2024

WHO

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