The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, received this Tuesday the official recognition from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in the country, a milestone that makes it the first in Central America to reach this goal. The Head of State met with Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, to formally receive the international validation.
The PAHO and the WHO confirmed that the country successfully passed the rigorous verification process that evaluates the absence of active trachoma transmission and the national health system’s capacity to detect and respond to potential future cases. Between 2023 and 2026, technical teams conducted targeted assessments in communities selected based on environmental and social risk factors. According to PAHO/WHO, “no evidence of active transmission or signs of the disease were found in children, nor were there any advanced cases with a risk of blindness in adults.”
The recognition received by El Salvador is part of the PAHO initiative to eradicate more than 30 communicable diseases in the Region of the Americas by 2030, a goal that requires the sustainability of the achievements reached and permanent epidemiological surveillance, as indicated by PAHO/WHO.
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The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, received the distinction from Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO.
Trachoma represents the most frequent infectious cause of blindness in the world and is associated with contexts of poverty, lack of drinking water, sanitation, and access to basic services. The infection, which is transmitted through direct contact with eye or nasal secretions from infected people, can lead to so-called trachomatous trichiasis, an advanced stage that causes the eyelashes to rub against the cornea and can lead to irreversible blindness.
El Salvador consolidates its position as a regional benchmark after eradicating trachoma as a public health problem
According to the WHO, the validation achieved by El Salvador reflects “political commitment, strategic investment, and community participation,” as expressed by the organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The process included training local health personnel, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, and integrating specialized services for the detection and treatment of trachomatous trichiasis within the national system.
“This validation reflects El Salvador’s commitment to reaching the most vulnerable populations and generating solid evidence to demonstrate that trachoma is not endemic in the country,” stated Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, as reported by PAHO/WHO. The official remarked that the national strategy combined improvements in primary care services, advances in water and sanitation, as well as collaboration between government sectors and international partners.
President Nayib Bukele received from Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, the recognition of El Salvador as the first country in Central America to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem.
The PAHO supported the process through the Initiative for the Elimination of Trachoma in the Americas, in cooperation with the government of Canada. The joint work allowed for the provision of integrated health services in the communities included in the assessments, covering visual acuity screenings in adults and educational actions on hygiene and prevention.
The elimination of trachoma adds to other advances promoted by the Bukele administration in public health, such as investment in hospital infrastructure, medical innovation, and the fight against communicable diseases. These advances consolidate El Salvador as a regional benchmark in health matters, according to the PAHO.
In the American continent, trachoma remains present in rural and remote regions of Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru. Meanwhile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, and Venezuela are under observation or evaluation processes. The WHO recommends that validated countries maintain surveillance systems and ensure access to quality ophthalmological services to prevent the reappearance of the disease.
