The World Health Organization, WHO has declared that this year India has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. With this, India has become the third country in the Southeast Asia Region to achieve this milestone. The WHO officially certified India during its Regional Committee meeting in New Delhi yesterday.        

Trachoma is a contagious bacterial infection that affects the eyes and spreads through the eyes, eyelids, nose, or throat secretions of infected people.

During 1950-60, trachoma was among the leading causes of blindness in the country. To tackle the spread, the government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963.