Senegal has been officially validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. It became the 25th country globally and the 9th in Africa to achieve this milestone. This marks the second Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) eliminated in Senegal, after Guinea-worm disease (Dracunculiasis), which was eliminated in 2004.
About Trachoma
- Trachoma is a highly contagious bacterial eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
- It leads to blindness or visual impairment, especially in rural, impoverished regions.
- WHO reports that:
- Around 1.9 million people globally suffer blindness/visual impairment from trachoma.
- It accounts for approximately 1.4% of global blindness.
- Trachoma remains hyper-endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, Central & South America, Australia, and the Middle East.
Other Countries That Have Eliminated Trachoma (WHO-validated)
Total: 25 countries (including Senegal)
Africa:
- Benin, Burundi, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Togo, Senegal
Asia:
- Cambodia, China, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam
Americas:
- Mexico, Papua New Guinea
Middle East:
- Iraq, Oman
Oceania:
- Vanuatu
Senegal’s Journey Toward Elimination
- Historical Context:
- Trachoma has existed in Senegal since the early 1900s.
- Identified as a leading cause of blindness in national surveys during the 1980s and 1990s.
- Joined WHO’s Alliance for Global Elimination of Trachoma in 1998.
- First national trachoma survey conducted in 2000, and full mapping completed by 2017, supported by:
- Global Trachoma Mapping Project
- Tropical Data
- Senegal integrated trachoma control into national health systems via:
- National Program for Blindness Prevention
- National Program for the Promotion of Eye Health
Strategy Used: WHO SAFE Strategy
Senegal implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy, which includes:
- Surgery – for people with late-stage trachoma (trichiasis)
- Antibiotics – mass drug administration of Azithromycin, donated by Pfizer via the International Trachoma Initiative
- Facial cleanliness – public health campaigns for hygiene awareness
- Environmental improvement – better water supply and sanitation access
2.8 million people reached across 24 trachoma-endemic districts in Senegal.
Significance
- Major public health achievement in Africa and the global fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
- Validates the effectiveness of community health programs, international collaboration, and WHO frameworks in eradicating disease.
- Offers a replicable model for other NTDs, including:
- Lymphatic filariasis
- Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
- Schistosomiasis
- Soil-transmitted helminths (hookworm, roundworm, whipworm)
- Leprosy
- Rabies
- Leishmaniasis
- Dengue
Key Facts
| Topic | Details |
| Senegal Capital | Dakar |
| Senegal President (as of 2025) | Bassirou Diomaye Faye (elected in 2024) |
| WHO Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| NTD Day | 30th January |
| Trachoma Bacterium | Chlamydia trachomatis |
| Global WHO SAFE Strategy | Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement |
| Pfizer | Donates Azithromycin via the International Trachoma Initiative |
| Guinea-worm disease elimination | First NTD eliminated in Senegal – 2004 |