A health official examines a woman’s eyes for signs to trachoma in Togo. Photo Credit: Aryc Mosher/USAID
Today USAID congratulated the Government of Togo for achieving the elimination of trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness, as a public health problem. This achievement was officially validated by the World Health Organization (WHO). USAID has worked with the Government of Togo to address trachoma elimination since 2016, and control and eliminate other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) since 2009.
Since 2006, USAID has worked alongside more than 30 countries to control and eliminate five life-altering NTDs. USAID has supported the delivery of 2.8 billion treatments donated by six pharmaceutical companies. Because of this support, 10 countries have eliminated at least one NTD as a public health problem, and nearly half a billion people worldwide are no longer at risk of three of the most burdensome NTDs.