On the afternoon of April 14, the Ministry of Health held a ceremony to announce the elimination of trachoma in Vietnam after more than 7 decades of persistent efforts to examine and treat trachoma and push this once dangerous infectious disease out of the community.

With scientific grounds, Vietnam has been officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated trachoma nationwide. According to international evaluation criteria, at the 75th session of the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region held in the Philippines on October 21, 2024, WHO officially recognized and honored Vietnam for its successful trachoma eradication.

This is an important milestone for Vietnam in general and the health sector in particular after more than 7 decades of striving and determination to prevent trachoma.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan emphasized that trachoma has long been a major challenge for the health sector in countries with difficult socio-economic conditions.

According to WHO data, by 2023, the number of people at risk of trachoma worldwide had decreased by 7%, from 125 million in 2022 to about 115.7 million. The majority of them still live in areas with active trachoma prevalence of 5% or more - mainly areas with limited environmental sanitation and access to health services.

In addition, the total global burden of trachoma-related entropion (the most severe complication of trachoma) has also decreased from 1.7 million cases in 2022 to approximately 1.5 million cases in 2023. These are very encouraging results in the global effort to prevent trachoma.

"To date, 21 countries in the world have been officially recognized by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health issue. We are proud that Vietnam has been honored to become one of the countries achieving this important result," Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan emphasized.

The Deputy Minister of Health also analyzed that the elimination of trachoma does not mean that we can be subjective or negligent. Instead, the task in the coming time is to continue to maintain the achievements in a sustainable manner. Relevant units need to strengthen the monitoring, detection and management of cases in the community; Continue to raise people's awareness of personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and trachoma prevention; Ensure resources and financial mechanisms for prevention activities, including payment for entropion surgery through health insurance in accordance with current regulations and strictly implement the periodic reporting regime to the Central Eye Hospital and state management agencies.

Recognizing this achievement, Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala - WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said that the elimination of trachoma in Viet Nam is a testament to the commitment of the Government, health workers and communities across the country. This is a prime example of how targeted interventions, strong partnerships and sustained efforts can bring about real change in people's health.

Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan sincerely thanked WHO and international organizations in Vietnam for accompanying and providing technical and financial support throughout the program implementation process in localities across the country, especially remote provinces that have taken drastic measures to prevent trachoma, and especially the medical staff from the central to grassroots levels who have devoted themselves and made efforts to overcome difficulties to complete the task.

Also at the event, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan highly appreciated the role of the Central Eye Hospital as the professional focal point in the implementation of the trachoma control and eradication program in Vietnam, from supervision, training, professional guidance, to data collection, management and close coordination with localities./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/viet-nam-trong-so-21-quoc-gia-da-thanh-cong-thanh-toan-benh-mat-hot-post1027742.vnp