New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) India was awarded the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a public health problem by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the Union health ministry said on Monday.

"This recognition is a testament to India's sustained efforts in disease elimination, preventive healthcare, and commitment to ensuring health for all," the health ministry said in a post on X.

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On October 8, 2024 the World Health Organisation declared that the Government of India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem, making it the third country in the region after Nepal and Myanmar to achieve this feat.

Trachoma, a leading cause of infectious blindness, is a chlamydial infection which happens due to lack of hygiene, unclean water supply and can spread by contact with eye, nose, or throat secretions of a person suffering with the disease or indirectly via flies.

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(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)