The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Pakistan free from the severe eye disease “trachoma” and has provided the government with a certificate to that effect.
The ceremony to announce Pakistan’s “trachoma-free” status took place in Islamabad, where the WHO’s country director presented the certificate to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
With this declaration, Pakistan has become the 19th country in the world to be recognized as free from trachoma by the global health organization.
Trachoma is an eye disease caused by an infection from the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which, if left untreated, can lead to permanent blindness.
Experts explain that the disease can spread from one person to another through secretions from the eyes or nose, with newborns at higher risk of contracting the infection from their mothers.
According to medical professionals, unsanitary clothing, bedding, and a lack of access to clean water and basic sanitation facilities contribute to the proliferation of the bacteria, affecting human health.
The WHO has announced the complete eradication of trachoma, presenting a letter declaring Pakistan a “trachoma-free country” to the Prime Minister.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister expressed that the announcement of trachoma’s eradication is a positive development for Pakistan. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the government, the Ministry of Health, provincial governments, NGOs, experts, and the WHO in achieving this success.
He emphasized that timely treatment and appropriate preventive measures have saved millions of lives, and he hopes the disease will never resurface in the country.
