Fiji Becomes The 26th Country In The World To Overcome Trakoma

Fiji Flag (image: istockphoto)

JAKARTA - Fiji's country has been officially validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its success in overcoming trakoma. Trakoma is an infectious eye infection caused by the trachomatic Chylamydia bacteria, which can cause blindness and become a public health threat.

Thus, Fiji became the 26th country in the world to successfully overcome tracoma from its public health problems. WHO really appreciates Fiji's success.

"WHO congratulates Fiji and its global and local partner networks, for reaching this milestone," said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, quoted from the WHO website, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

"The future generality of Fijians has been given a valuable gift to be free from the sufferings posed by trakoma in their ancestors," he added.

Trakoma was once a significant public health issue in Fiji, with medical reports from the 1930s and community-based surveys in the 1950s documenting the disease widespread and at risk of blindness.

In the 2000s, assessments showed that high-level active tracoma in children. This prompted the local Ministry of Health and medical services to launch comprehensive programs to better understand the situation and take appropriate action.

Since 2012, Fiji has conducted a series of powerful surveys and studies, supported internationally. Including population-based prevalence surveys and laboratory testing, to understand the local epidemiology of trakoma and to distinguish it from other cause of eye disease.

These efforts are integrated from school health, water, sanitation, and public awareness programs. With this effort it is confirmed that trakoma is no longer a problem for Fiji's public health and the system already exists to identify, and manage cases in the future.

This achievement reflects coordinated actions over the years, across villages, health facilities, and regional platforms show the unshakable commitment of our healthcare workers, the community leading the changes, said Fiji's Health and Medical Services Minister, Dr. Ratu Antonio Rabici Lalailavu.