Africa CDC Assertion on Algeria’s Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Drawback – Africa CDC

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24 April 2026 – Africa CDC welcomes Algeria’s validation by the World Health Organization as having eradicated trachoma as a public well being drawback. This milestone, achieved on 23 April 2026, makes Algeria the twenty ninth nation globally and the tenth nation in WHO’s African Region to succeed in this achievement.

As of 24 April 2026, no less than 13 African Union Member States have been WHO-validated as having eradicated trachoma as a public well being drawback: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, and Togo.

Trachoma stays the world’s main infectious reason for blindness, notably affecting communities with restricted entry to water, sanitation, hygiene, and enough dwelling circumstances. Algeria’s achievement demonstrates that elimination is feasible by means of sustained political dedication, robust well being techniques, neighborhood engagement, and coordinated multisectoral motion.

For Africa CDC, trachoma elimination throughout all 55 AU Member States is inside attain. The subsequent part should concentrate on:

• Accelerating elimination in remaining endemic or previously endemic international locations by means of the WHO SAFE technique (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental enchancment)
• Strengthening surveillance and post-validation monitoring to stop resurgence
• Integrating trachoma into PHC, WASH, college well being, neighborhood well being employee, and NTD platforms
• Using digital well being and geospatial intelligence to information last-mile interventions

Africa CDC requires a shift from fragmented illness management to built-in, data-driven, community-owned elimination — anchored in PHC, WASH, surveillance, and Africa’s well being safety and sovereignty agenda.

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About Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the general public well being company of the African Union. As an autonomous establishment, Africa CDC helps AU Member States to strengthen well being techniques, enhance illness surveillance, and improve emergency preparedness and response. For extra info, go to:  observe Africa CDC on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

Media Contacts:

Margaret Muigai Edwin, Director of Communication & Public Information Directorate: Africa CDC | [email protected]