Iraq gets rid of a serious disease that causes blindness
The World Heath Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPA, via Shutterstock
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Iraq has managed to eliminate trachoma, an eye infection that leads to blindness.
“Happy to announce that Iraq has eliminated trachoma and become the 50th country recognized by the WHO for eliminating a neglected tropical disease, marking the halfway point towards the 100-country target set for 2030,” Director General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said via Twitter.
Ghebreyesus indicated that he congratulates Iraq on this achievement, which he described as ‘important.’
Trachoma is a bacterial infection that causes significant damage to the eyes. It is transmitted through contact with the eyes, eyelids, and secretions from the nose and throat of infected people.
Trachoma is a public health problem in 42 countries and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people, according to the WHO.
Based on data issued by the WHO in 2022, 125 million people live in trachoma-endemic areas and are at risk of trachoma blindness.