Trachoma remains a cause of blindness in Africa. This preventable infectious eye disease continues to threaten vision, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Discover how we can work for its elimination.
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It spreads through contact with eye or nose secretions and by flies, thriving in areas with poor sanitation. Repeated infections scar the eyelid, causing lashes to turn inward and damage the cornea; if untreated, it can lead to irreversible blindness. This disease predominantly affects children, who act as reservoirs of infection, and women, who are often primary caregivers and more exposed to infected children. Environmental factors such as lack of clean water, poor hygiene and overcrowded living conditions help transmission.
Trachoma elimination in Africa: environmental strategies and recent successes
Despite progress, trachoma still matters because it remains the leading infectious cause of blindness in Africa’s most vulnerable communities. In response, African countries have increasingly adopted the SAFE strategy —Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement— recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mass drug administration campaigns using azithromycin have successfully reduced infection rates in endemic areas, while programs promoting facial cleanliness and improved sanitation target the root causes of transmission. Ethiopia, Ghana and Malawi have reported significant declines in Trachoma thanks to these integrated interventions.
How communities and organizations are responding
NGOs and community health workers play a key role in implementing Trachoma control measures. Mobile surgical teams travel to remote villages to treat advanced cases, preventing blindness before it occurs. Education campaigns teach families simple hygiene practices, such as regular face-washing and reducing fly exposure, which drastically cut transmission among children.
Governments collaborate with these organizations to expand clean water access, construct latrines and engage local leaders in promoting sustained behavioral change. In many regions, community-led initiatives have been particularly effective, turning local populations into active participants in disease prevention rather than passive recipients of aid.
Remaining challenges in the fight against Trachoma
Progress goes on, but Trachoma persists in Africa. Remote geography, political instability and funding gaps hinder full coverage of preventive measures. In some areas, access to clean water and sanitation infrastructure remains limited, making environmental control difficult. Sustaining behavior change over time is another challenge, as hygiene practices must be consistent to prevent reinfection.
Health experts stress that eliminating trachoma requires continued vigilance. Maintaining mass drug distribution, expanding surgical outreach, and integrating water, sanitation, and hygiene programs —being WASH the main one— into national strategies are essential to reaching the World Health Organization’s elimination targets. Trachoma is preventable; with sustained commitment, funding and local involvement, Africa can move closer to a future where this disease no longer exists. Achieving it is in our hands.
