Category: Global Health | Date: October 20, 2025
Source Credit: World Health Organization (WHO)
In a powerful public health victory, Fiji has officially eliminated trachoma as a public health problem — becoming the 26th country in the world and the first in the Pacific to do so. This marks a significant step forward in global efforts to end neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
👁️ What Is Trachoma?
Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
It spreads through:
- Personal contact
- Contaminated surfaces
- Flies that touch eye or nose discharge of infected individuals
Repeated infections can cause scarring inside the eyelid, leading to the lashes turning inward — a painful condition that can eventually cause blindness.
Trachoma mainly affects communities where clean water and sanitation are limited, making it one of the leading preventable causes of blindness in the world.
🇫🇯 Fiji’s Journey to Elimination
Fiji’s success didn’t happen overnight. For decades, trachoma was a major health issue. Historical records from the 1930s and 1950s showed widespread infection.
By the 1980s, cases began to decline, but in the early 2000s, health surveys raised new concerns.
To combat this, Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services, with support from WHO and international partners, launched a strong national program:
- Conducting detailed population-based surveys
- Improving access to clean water and sanitation
- Integrating trachoma prevention into school health programs
- Educating communities about eye hygiene
By 2025, these combined efforts confirmed that trachoma no longer poses a public health threat in Fiji.
🌏 A Win for Global Health Equity
This achievement shows the power of community action, health investment, and regional collaboration. It also highlights the Pacific region’s growing leadership in tackling infectious diseases.
According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General:
“Future generations of Fijians have been given a precious gift — freedom from the suffering that trachoma has inflicted on their ancestors.”
Fiji’s health minister, Dr. Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu, celebrated this milestone as “a defining moment for health equity in the Pacific,” emphasizing the dedication of healthcare workers and communities across the islands.
🌿 Beyond Trachoma: Fighting Other Neglected Diseases
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) still affect over 1 billion people worldwide — mostly in low-income regions. The WHO Roadmap for NTDs (2021–2030) aims to eliminate or control 20 such diseases by 2030.
Fiji’s victory is part of a wider regional effort. Since 2016, 13 countries in the Western Pacific Region — including Cambodia, China, and Viet Nam — have eliminated at least one NTD.
Fiji’s achievement proves that with sustained partnerships and strong health systems, countries can build a future free from preventable diseases.
✅ Key Takeaway
Fiji’s success shows that eliminating infectious diseases is possible — through community engagement, clean water access, and ongoing investment in public health. It’s an inspiring step toward global health for all.
Credit: World Health Organization (WHO) – “Fiji becomes the 26th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem,” October 2025.