International Coalition for Trachoma Control

Viet Nam has been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

Viet Nam has been actively tackling trachoma since the 1950s, when surveys indicated that the prevalence of active (inflammatory) trachoma ranged from 50–90%, and the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT), the blinding stage of trachoma, was up to 6.4% in some communities. In response, the country implemented community-based interventions from 1951, deploying mobile outreach teams to deliver eyelid surgery, administer tetracycline eye ointment, and provide health education to affected communities.

 In 1999, the Ministry of Health's Department of Preventative Medicine expanded trachoma elimination efforts through the creation of a national trachoma programme, in partnership with the Viet Nam National Eye Hospital (formerly known as the Viet Nam National Institute of Ophthalmology), which implemented the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy in 21 provinces.

The national trachoma programme collaborated closely with other government ministries, including the Ministry of Education, to integrate trachoma prevention into the school health curriculum nationwide. Additionally, in partnership with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) agencies, the national programme ensured that latrine construction and other sanitation initiatives were prioritized in trachoma-endemic areas.

Trachoma elimination was also supported by the United States Agency for International Development’s Act to End NTDs | East program, which provided financial and technical support to implement trachoma surveys and manage TT cases in the country. Additionally, the programme received support from the International Trachoma Initiative, which maintained an office in Viet Nam to support SAFE strategy implementation, including mass drug administration of azithromycin, donated by Pfizer Inc.

In 2016, Viet Nam launched its "National Strategy on Blindness Prevention until 2020 with a Vision to 2030," which implemented a campaign to manage TT. The strategy focused on increasing access to eye care services and strengthening the national eye care service network. This included training village health workers, commune (community) health workers, and Women’s Union members to detect cases. Health workers were provided with materials related to case identification, referral, health promotion messages, and follow-up. Passive case finding was also undertaken through village-based loudspeaker systems and regular Women’s Union meetings.

“Viet Nam has made significant progress in improving health outcomes and living standards in recent years,” said PJ Hooper, Chair of the International Coalition for Trachoma Control. “Viet Nam’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem provides an important example of what can be achieved through comprehensive cross-sectoral programmes and long-term public health strategies based on principles of sustainability. ICTC congratulates the Government of Viet Nam and all the partners involved.”

Viet Nam is the fifth country in the WHO Western Pacific Region to be validated as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem and the 21st country globally to reach this milestone. Using data reported by national health ministries, WHO reports that in April 2024, 103 million people were known to require interventions against trachoma in 39 countries, with an estimated burden of 1.5 million TT cases globally. Compared to a 2002 baseline, this represents a 93% reduction in the number of people thought to be at risk of trachoma and a 76% reduction in the number of people requiring surgery for TT.

Trachoma is targeted for global elimination as a public health problem by 2030 through the global road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030, published by WHO, and endorsed by WHO Member States at the 73rd World Health Assembly in November 2020. Other countries that have been validated as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are Benin, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Ghana, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Togo, and Vanuatu.

Trachoma elimination in Viet Nam was supported by several ICTC members, including FHI 360, the International Trachoma Initiative, RTI International and The Fred Hollows Foundation.