India has been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating trachoma, an eye disease caused by a bacterial infection, as a public health problem, becoming the third country in the Southeast Asia region to achieve this milestone, following Nepal and Myanmar.
Trachoma, which can cause infectious blindness, is linked to poor hygiene and inadequate water supply, spreading through contact with infected secretions or indirectly via flies.
During a ‘Public Health Awards’ event at the Seventy Seventh Regional Committee Session, WHO officials highlighted the crucial roles played by India’s government, ophthalmologists, and healthcare workers in effectively managing trachoma through surveillance, surgical services, and community hygiene initiatives.
“India’s success is due to the strong leadership of its government and the commitment of ophthalmologists and other cadres of health-care workers.
“They worked together with partners to ensure effective surveillance, diagnosis and management of active trachoma, provision of surgical services for trichiasis, and promotion of water, sanitation and hygiene, particularly facial cleanliness, among communities,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia.
The WHO also felicitated Bhutan for achieving interim targets for cervical cancer elimination, Maldives and Sri Lanka for Hepatitis B control in children, Timor-Leste for eliminating lymphatic filariasis and six countries for achieving SDG and global targets for reducing under-five mortality and stillbirth rates.
Bhutan was recognised for reaching the 2030 interim targets towards elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, the first country in the region to achieve this significant public health milestone, the WHO said in a statement.
The interim 90-70-90 targets are 90 per cent girls fully vaccinated against Human papillomavirus (HPV vaccine) by 15 years of age; 70 per cent of women screened with a high-performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age and 90 per cent of women identified with cervical disease provided treatment, the statement said.
“The success of the Royal Government of Bhutan is driven by strong leadership, favourable health policies, organised health systems, well-defined country priorities, motivated health workforce, and efficient coordination by the Ministry of Health.
Lauding Maldives and Sri Lanka for achieving hepatitis B control, the Regional Director said that preventing hepatitis B infection in children substantially reduces chronic infections and cases of liver cancer and cirrhosis in adulthood.
Bhutan was also recognised for achieving the SDG and global 2030 targets of reducing under-5 mortality and stillbirth rates while Timor-Leste was awarded for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. It is the fifth country in the Region to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand were felicitated for achieving the SDG and global targets for the reduction of under-5 mortality, neonatal mortality and stillbirth rates, the statement added.
