India declared free from Trachoma, major cause of preventable blindness

Strong public health and community support has helped India to be free from trachoma — a highly contagious bacterial infection that has been a major cause of preventable blindness worldwide, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.

From being the leading cause of blindness during the 1950s



and 1960s, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared India “officially free from trachoma”.

“This milestone comes after years of dedicated efforts by the government to protect the vision of millions, emphasising the importance of healthy eyesight for every individual,” the ministry said.