In a moment that underscores the power of perseverance in public health, the World Health Organization announced in February 2026 that Libya has officially eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. The North African nation becomes the 28th country worldwide and the eighth in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this milestone.
"This milestone reflects Libya's determination to safeguard the health of its people and reinforces our conviction that progress against neglected tropical diseases is possible everywhere," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
A Century-Long Battle Won
Trachoma, the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, has been documented in Libya for over a century. Surveys in the 20th century reported high levels of active trachoma in communities across the country, particularly in the southern regions. The bacterial infection, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, spreads through contact with infected eye and nose discharge and can lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated.
What makes Libya's achievement particularly remarkable is the context in which it was accomplished. Years of political instability, humanitarian challenges, and disrupted health services created enormous obstacles. Displaced populations and increased demand for basic services strained the very systems needed to fight the disease.
Evidence-Based Strategy
The turning point came when Libya's Ministry of Health prioritized trachoma elimination in 2017 as part of its National Prevention of Blindness Programme. Working alongside WHO, Sightsavers, the International Trachoma Initiative, and Tropical Data, the country launched comprehensive surveys in 2022 across six southern districts where trachoma was suspected to persist.
The results confirmed that transmission had fallen dramatically thanks to decades of health system strengthening that began in the 1970s and 1980s. Libya implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy — Surgery for advanced cases, Antibiotics to clear infection, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement to reduce transmission.
Regional Momentum
"Libya joins a growing group of countries from the Eastern Mediterranean Region that have eliminated trachoma," said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. "This result reflects strong regional coordination and Libya's perseverance during periods of great challenge."
The achievement sends a powerful message to other nations still fighting neglected tropical diseases: progress is possible even in the most challenging circumstances. With coordinated effort, evidence-based programming, and sustained political commitment, preventable blindness can become a thing of the past.
For the people of Libya, this isn't just a statistic — it's a promise that future generations will be protected from a disease that has caused suffering for over a hundred years.
