• The World Health Organisation declared India as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem on 8th October 2024. India joins Nepal and Myanmar in the South East Asia Region along with becoming the 19th country worldwide to achieve this status.

• India reduced cases of trachoma from causing 5% of blindness cases in the 1960s, to less than 0.008% in 2018, far less than the WHO standards of 5% or less. 

• Finally, after a series of impact, prevalidation and trachoma only surveys carried out from 2019-2024, India achieved its trachoma free status.

• The efforts were led by the development of a Trachoma Control Project in 1963 which became a part of the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) In 1976.

• The methods employed were based on the WHO SAFE method, focusing on surgical treatment for the trichomonas trichiasis stage (S), antibiotic distribution to cure infections (A), facial hygiene methods to reduce the spread of infections (F)and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation (E).

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