Ending trachoma

PICTURED: EndTrachoma Directors Rob McGuirk, left, Sandi Fulcher, Lien Trinh, Kerry Kornhauser OAM and PDG Murray Verso.

A public health breakthrough. Rotary celebrates as the World Health Organisation declares trachoma eliminated as a public health problem in Australia.

On 29 April 2026, the World Health Organisation formally announced that Australia had become the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem – a milestone recognised as both a public health victory and a significant step by Australia towards improving the environmental health of Indigenous Australians.

“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”

Rotarians throughout Australia can also celebrate this achievement, as Rotary has been involved in a national project to end trachoma for more than 10 years.

The project began in 2016, was founded by and is still led by Rob McGuirk, of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, with project directors Kerry Kornhauser OAM, of the Rotary Club of Brighton North, and Past District Governor Murray Verso, of the Rotary Club of Williamstown. The initial project manager, Lien Trinh, was a Rotary Foundation scholar and the current project manager is Sandi Fulcher, of the Rotary eClub of Change Makers.

In addition, District Champions have worked with clubs throughout Australia to educate them about trachoma and other health issues that our Indigenous Australians face. They have harnessed support, raised funds for the project and also kept their clubs informed of its progress.

PICTURED: The Warburton ‘clean faces, strong eyes’ mural was the first in a series of trachoma art murals in remote communities across Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is located at the Warburton community store, where many community members visit on a daily basis. The mural was completed by IHHP artist Adnate and was part of a larger project that included a community music video ‘Kulilla Kulilla Pay Attention’ about eliminating trachoma with clean faces and safe working bathrooms.

Rotarians have participated in practical ways by obtaining products and packing more than 12,000 hygiene kits for schools and families, collecting stamps to raise funds and even travelled to communities to help with installations of washing facilities. In total, the project to date has raised more than $1.2 million and, in addition, contributions of time and donations of products would be valued at several hundred thousand dollars.

“While this announcement marks a historic achievement, the work is far from complete,” said Rob. “Continued investment in environmental health, hygiene infrastructure and Indigenous community wellbeing remains essential to prevent this disease from returning and to address other preventable health conditions affecting remote communities.”

Rob expressed the hope that Rotary clubs nationally will continue to provide assistance with this and other initiatives to improve the lives of our Indigenous Australians.

• For further information, visit: endtrachoma2020.org.au
• Read the full WHO announcement at: bit.ly/end-trachoma