The Fred Hollows Foundation has welcomed the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) announcement that Fiji has eliminated the eye disease trachoma as a public health problem.
In a media release, the foundation said it had helped drive the work towards eliminating the disease in Fiji, with the support of the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Trust (2016-2019) and the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness and is classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
The disease thrives in areas where the water is scarce, and the sanitation is poor. The active infection is more commonly seen in children, where blinding complications are seen in adults and older people.
Fred Hollows Foundation CEO Mr Ross Piper congratulated the Government in Fiji and partners for working collectively to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem.
The news follows an announcement in July 2025 that Papua New Guinea had also eliminated the disease.
“Since 2016, the Fred Hollows Foundation has supported trachoma initiatives in Fiji in partnership with Project Heaven and international support from research organisations,” he said.
“This is a significant achievement that is only made possible through cooperation and collaboration from local through to international partners.
“The government of Fiji has played an important role in driving trachoma elimination activities and ensuring we reach the most remote areas of the country.”
Piper said the implementing partner, Project Heaven, had played a central role in driving the program forward, alongside research partners, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Burnet Institute.
“We’re also grateful for the strong technical and advocacy support provided by the WHO and the National Prevention of Blindness Committee, as well as survey support from the International Trachoma Initiative and Tropical Data.”
The release said efforts to eliminate trachoma in Fiji had started with trachoma surveys conducted before 2016 by IAPB which laid the groundwork for success.
The foundation acknowledged the vital contributions of the following organisations to trachoma efforts:
- Project Heaven
- Pacific Eye Institute (PEI)
- The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- The Burnet Institute
- The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ
- World Health Organization (Division of Pacific Support).
