For Immediate Release
Press Release
HANOI, October 21, 2024 – Today, the United States Mission to Vietnam, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), congratulated Vietnam on its elimination of blinding trachoma as a public health problem, as validated by the World Health Organization. This achievement means the Vietnamese people are no longer at risk of blindness due to trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide.
”We applaud Vietnam on this latest public health achievement,” said Aler Grubbs, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director. “Vietnam’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is the result of the country’s decades-long effort to tackle neglected infectious diseases. USAID is pleased to have been a part of the tremendous partnership, and remains a committed partner of Vietnam’s in advancing public health.”
Vietnam, with support from local and global partners and donors, eliminated trachoma as a public health problem by implementing community-wide treatment and monitoring and documenting progress. The Ministry of Health and the Vietnam National Eye Hospital led this elimination effort. Preventive treatment was donated by Pfizer.
USAID has provided Vietnam financial and technical assistance toward ending trachoma since 2011. USAID also supported the country’s efforts to eliminate another disabling neglected tropical disease, lymphatic filariasis, which was achieved in 2018.
Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection spread through direct contact with infected persons, shared towels or cloths, as well as eye-seeking flies. Repeated infection develops into a painful condition that can result in vision loss or permanent blindness. Stigmatization and loss of opportunity from the disease places undue economic and social burdens on individuals, families, and communities.
For photos of USAID’s trachoma elimination support, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcdCNQK.
For more information about USAID partnership with Vietnam to improve public health, please visit: https://www.usaid.gov/vietnam/health.