Timor‑Leste’s trachoma elimination clears South‑East Asia of the eye disease, marking 33rd global success

The World Health Organization’s recent validation means that trachoma is no longer classified as a public‑health issue in any country belonging to the South‑East Asia region. Until now Timor‑Leste was the sole member where the disease was still considered possibly endemic. With its certification, the region joins the rest of the world in having removed the last known reservoir of this eye infection. The step supports the broader WHO target of ending trachoma globally by 2030 and places Timor‑Leste among 32 other nations that have already received the same status.

The decision rests on a series of investigations that began in 2015 and continued through 2017, when health teams examined children on Atauro Island, screened patients at eye clinics nationwide, and carried out focused household visits. None of these activities identified active cases. A further nationwide survey conducted in 2025 collected 4,949 ocular samples from children aged one to five across all 13 municipalities; laboratory analysis showed no evidence of transmission at a level that would require a dedicated public‑health programme. The Ministry of Health will retain capacity to treat isolated trichiasis cases through the National Eye Centre in Dili, while surveillance is now merged into existing disease‑monitoring systems.

Eliminating trachoma also reflects progress against the broader group of neglected tropical diseases, which disproportionately affect impoverished communities lacking clean water, sanitation and reliable health services. Timor‑Leste’s approach combined targeted disease actions with strengthening of routine health infrastructure, a strategy highlighted in WHO’s 2021‑2030 roadmap for NTDs. As of September 2026, 64 countries have reported the removal of at least one such disease, underscoring the growing momentum toward universal health coverage. The experience offers a practical example for other low‑resource settings that aim to maximise limited resources by integrating disease surveillance with existing health programmes.