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Please let me start by thanking the Ministry of Health for organizing this important Announcement Ceremony on Trachoma Elimination in Viet Nam.
I could not be more delighted to join you in celebrating Viet Nam’s achievement in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.
This success reflects decades of strong Government leadership, integrated eye care services, improved water and sanitation, and community engagement, showing what is possible with sustained, multi-sectoral action.
In the past, trachoma was one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in Viet Nam.
Over the past 70 years, Viet Nam has worked tirelessly to combat trachoma, treating hundreds of thousands of people and implementing rigorous control measures.
These efforts were significantly strengthened with the implementation of WHO’s SAFE strategy in 1999. SAFE stands for surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement.
In 2010, with the end in sight, the Government set elimination of trachoma as a national target.
WHO was proud to support this final push, including support for identifying areas where surgery and antibiotics were still needed, as well as efforts to address the environmental factors which increase the risk of people having trachoma, including:
- inadequate hygiene
- crowded households
- inadequate access to water
- inadequate access to and use of sanitation.
The full engagement of all of a wide range of sectors, including those responsible for water and sanitation, has been instrumental to Viet Nam’s elimination of trachoma – a truly great achievement.
As we celebrate a trachoma-free future for Viet Nam today, we also need to commit to three important actions for the future.
First, we need to sustain elimination, through continuously using the tools that have brought us so much success.
That is, we need robust surveillance, access to eye care for people who were earlier infected with trachoma, and ongoing access to water and sanitation services in every community (which of course have a range of health benefits beyond trachoma prevention).
Second, we need to ensure quality eye care services for everyone, everywhere in Viet Nam.
And thirdly, let’s use the momentum of trachoma elimination to accelerate elimination of other diseases including neglected tropical diseases.
You can, of course, rely on WHO’s continued support in all of these areas.
Viet Nam’s triumph against trachoma has demonstrated how to eliminate diseases – with cross-cutting, multi-sectoral approaches, and WHO’s evidence-based tools.
When WHO validated trachoma elimination recently, our Director General Dr Tedros said:
“Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Viet Nam is a monumental achievement for the country and for the global fight against the disease.
“This milestone is a testament to the unwavering dedication of Viet Nam’s health workers, including many working at community level. It underscores the power of collective action, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to a healthier future for all. I commend Viet Nam for its dedication and success in safeguarding the vision of millions.”
So, it gives me great pleasure to present this letter of recognition of Viet Nam’s trachoma elimination from Dr Tedros to you, Minister Lan.
Xin chuc mung (Congratulations)!
Xin cảm ơn!