The Government of Nepal has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, according to a recent announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO). With this announcement, Nepal joins a small number of countries in achieving validation of trachoma elimination.  Their success demonstrates clear progress in the global fight against NTDs for the remaining trachoma-endemic countries.

Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection that can cause the eyelids to scar and, eventually, turn inwards, causing the eyelashes to rub painfully against the cornea (trichiasis) and leads to corneal opacity, the foremost infectious cause of blindness worldwide. [Read the press release]