A delegation from the World Health Organization presented a plaque to the head of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dabaiba, on the occasion of the official declaration previously issued by the UN agency that Libya is free of trachoma, in recognition of the national efforts that contributed to this public health achievement.

Dabaiba received the WHO delegation in his office at the Cabinet of Ministers in Tripoli on Wednesday. The delegation included the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Hanan Balkhi, the WHO Country Director Ahmed Zouiten, and Senior Advisor Hisham Al-Bari, in the presence of Health Minister Mohamed Al-Ghouj, the Prime Minister’s Financial Advisor Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, and Secretary-General of the Cabinet Office Adel Dhuweir.

Official Congratulations from the World Health Organization

The “Our Government” platform added via its Facebook page that Libya also received official congratulations from the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in which he praised this achievement, affirming that it reflects the success of national programs in combating infectious eye diseases, strengthening the public health system, and developing primary care services, early diagnosis, and treatment.

The platform noted that this announcement represents an important step toward improving public health indicators in Libya and strengthening cooperation with the international organization in the areas of disease prevention and control.

Libya’s Success in Eliminating Trachoma

On February 18, the World Health Organization announced Libya’s success in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, in a move it described as a “historic victory” for public health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, affirming that this achievement protects future generations from preventable blindness.

With this achievement, Libya has officially become the 28th country globally, and the eighth in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, to successfully eliminate trachoma. It has also become the 59th country globally, and the tenth in the region, to eliminate at least one of the neglected tropical diseases.

What is trachoma?

Trachoma is a highly prevalent bacterial infection of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which is transmitted through contact with secretions from an infected eye via hands, clothing, or flies, particularly in environments with poor water and sanitation services. Recurrent infection can lead to scarring of the inner eyelid and inward turning of the eyelashes, a condition known as trichiasis, which can result in blindness if not treated with antibiotics, such as azithromycin, or through surgical intervention.

According to the organization, the disease has been documented in Libya for over a century, particularly in southern regions, before efforts by the Ministry of Health since the 1970s, along with strengthened health systems, contributed to a gradual reduction in transmission rates. In 2017, the elimination of trachoma was prioritized within the National Blindness Prevention Program, with support from international partners, including SightSavers and the International Trachoma Initiative. Surveys conducted in 2022 and 2025 confirmed that infection rates had fallen below the thresholds set for eliminating the disease.

Libya’s Achievement

The World Health Organization considered Libya’s achievement to be particularly remarkable given years of political instability, humanitarian challenges that strained health services, an increase in displaced persons, and rising demand for essential services, including water, sanitation, and hygiene. Despite these pressures, the National Trachoma Elimination Program succeeded in integrating surveillance, expanding access to surgical care, building capacity among eye health workers, and establishing partnerships with national and international stakeholders.