Protecting sight and fighting for disability rights
We’re so close to eliminating trachoma
Our work to end trachoma75% of sight loss can be cured or prevented
Learn how you can help
Fundraising and donations
There are many ways you can fundraise for us or donate to transform the future for people in the poorest parts of the world.
News and blogs
Visit our news and blogs pages to keep up to date with Sightsavers’ latest news reports, updates from the field in Africa and Asia, and international health news.
Our story
Sightsavers’ vision is of a world where no one is blind from avoidable causes and where visually impaired people participate equally in society.
One billion NTD treatments
Sightsavers and partners have reached a historic milestone in the fight against neglected tropical diseases, with the billionth NTD treatment delivered in Nigeria.
Learn moreWorking globally
We work in more than 30 countries around the world.
We partner with local, regional and national partners, ministries, governments and non-governmental groups to distribute disease treatments, carry out operations and eye examinations, advocate for people with disabilities and strengthen local health systems.
Africa
The majority of Sightsavers’ work takes place in sub-Saharan Africa, and we also have regional support offices in Kenya (covering East Africa) and Senegal (covering East, Central and Southern Africa).
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Benin
Our work in Benin focuses on treating and preventing neglected tropical diseases. In 2017 Sightsavers and its partners distributed 4.3 million treatments for river blindness and nearly 2 million for lymphatic filariasis.
Our work in Benin -
Burkina Faso
Sightsavers is working to eliminate trachoma and river blindness in Burkina Faso. In 2017 we distributed 103,000 treatments for river blindness, and trained more than 600 volunteers to give out medication.
Our work in Burkina Faso -
Cameroon
Many neglected tropical diseases are endemic in Cameroon. In 2017 Sightsavers distributed more than 14.3 million NTD treatments and trained 22,000 community volunteers to give out medication.
Our work in Cameroon -
Chad
Trachoma has been a public health problem in Chad since the 1970s. In 2017, Sightsavers distributed more than 4.8 million antibiotic treatments to control the spread of trachoma in the country.
Our work in Chad -
Côte d’Ivoire
Sightsavers’ work in Côte d’Ivoire focuses on treating neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness. In 2017 we distributed 3.5 million NTD treatments and trained 7,000 volunteers to give out medication.
Our work in Côte d’Ivoire -
Democratic Republic of Congo
Neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness affect millions of people in DRC. In 2017 we helped to distribute more than 3.6 million treatments to prevent the spread of these debilitating diseases.
Our work in Democratic Republic of Congo -
Ethiopia
More than 75 million people in Ethiopia live in trachoma-endemic areas – the highest of any country in the world. In 2017, we helped to distribute 10.4 million antibiotic treatments for trachoma in the country.
Our work in Ethiopia -
The Gambia
Blinding trachoma is still prevalent in The Gambia, and much of Sightsavers’ work in the country focuses on distributing antibiotic treatments and supporting sight-saving surgery to treat the disease.
Our work in The Gambia -
Ghana
It’s estimated that 200,000 people in Ghana are blind, more than half because of untreated cataracts. In 2017, Sightsavers helped to examine more than 38,000 people for eye conditions to enable them to be treated.
Our work in Ghana -
Guinea
Sightsavers’ work in Guinea focuses on preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases. In 2017 we helped to distribute almost 2.5 million NTD treatments and supported 1,900 sight-saving operations.
Our work in Guinea -
Guinea-Bissau
Neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma and river blindness continue to affect Guinea-Bissau. In 2017 we helped to distribute more than 950,000 treatments to stop the spread of these diseases.
Our work in Guinea-Bissau -
Kenya
Much of our work in Kenya focuses on neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma, and in 2017 we distributed 395,000 NTD treatments to help prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.
Our work in Kenya -
Liberia
Many people in Liberia suffer from neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness. In 2017, Sightsavers helped to distribute more than 2.5 million NTD treatments to stop the spread of these diseases.
Our work in Liberia -
Malawi
It’s estimated that more than 160,000 people in Malawi have impaired vision, with half caused by cataracts. In 2017 Sightsavers examined 50,000 people to check for eye conditions and enable them to be treated.
Our work in Malawi -
Mali
In 2017, Sightsavers distributed nearly 8 million treatments in Mali to stop the spread of neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness, and trained 10,000 local volunteers to give out the medication.
Our work in Mali -
Mozambique
Untreated eye problems continue to affect many people in Mozambique. In 2017 Sightsavers helped to carry out 108,000 eye examinations and supported 3,200 sight-saving cataract operations.
Our work in Mozambique -
Nigeria
In 2017, Sightsavers’ work in Nigeria included distributing 72.5 million treatments for neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma, and training more than 80,000 volunteers to give out medication.
Our work in Nigeria -
Republic of Congo
Sightsavers’ work in the Republic of Congo focuses on preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness. In 2017 we distributed more than 1.5 million NTD treatments to people at risk.
Our work in Republic of Congo -
Senegal
Sightsavers’ work in Senegal focuses on eye screening and surgery. In 2017 we screened 76,000 people for eye conditions and helped to carry out 8,000 sight-saving operations to treat eye issues such as cataracts.
Our work in Senegal -
Sierra Leone
Our focus in Sierra Leone is on treating cataracts and preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases. In 2017 we helped to distribute almost 10 million NTD treatments to tackle these debilitating diseases.
Our work in Sierra Leone -
Sudan
Trachoma continues to affect many people in Republic of the Sudan. In 2017, Sightsavers examined 21,000 people for eye conditions and distributed 1.9 million antibiotic treatments to help prevent trachoma.
Our work in Sudan -
South Sudan
River blindness continues to affect many people in Republic of South Sudan. In 2017 we helped to distribute almost 500,000 treatments to prevent the spread of this neglected tropical disease.
Our work in South Sudan -
Tanzania
Sightsavers has been working in Tanzania since the 1970s. In 2017 we examined 177,000 people to check for eye conditions such as cataracts, and helped to carry out 9,000 sight-saving operations.
Our work in Tanzania -
Togo
Sightsavers’ work in Togo focuses on preventing river blindness. In 2017, we helped to distribute more than 2.5 million treatments for the disease in Togo, and trained 11,800 volunteers to give out the medication.
Our work in Togo -
Uganda
Sightsavers’ focus in Uganda is to promote social inclusion and tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In 2017 we distributed 275,000 treatments for NTDs and supported 5,000 sight-saving operations.
Our work in Uganda -
Zambia
Sightsavers is working towards eliminating blinding trachoma in Zambia. In 2017 we distributed more than 2.8 million treatments to help control the spread of the disease.
Our work in Zambia -
Zimbabwe
Untreated cataracts are a major cause of blindness in Zimbabwe. Our work here has included examining people for eye conditions, as well as helping to carry out sight-saving cataract operations.
Our work in Zimbabwe
Asia
Sightsavers’ work in Asia is mainly concentrated on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We also have a Middle Eastern office in the United Arab Emirates.
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Bangladesh
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of untreated cataracts worldwide. In 2017, Sightsavers helped to screen more than a million people for eye conditions, and supported more than 52,500 cataract operations.
Our work in Bangladesh -
India
It is estimated there are still more than 8 million blind people in India. In 2017 Sightsavers examined more than 4.1 million people in India for eye conditions and supported more than 204,000 cataract operations.
Our work in India -
Pakistan
Untreated eye conditions such as cataracts affect millions of people in Pakistan. In 2017, we examined more than 7.6 million people for eye problems and supported 34,000 sight-saving operations.
Our work in Pakistan -
Yemen
In 2018, Sightsavers started working in Yemen to distribute treatments to protect against trachoma. More than 444,000 doses of antibiotics were given out during the first week-long distribution programme.
Our work in Yemen
How we’re making a difference
Aklima’s story
Three-year-old Aklima has cataracts that affect her vision. Her home is surrounded by water, so it's a race against time to treat her and keep her safe.
Sightsavers named one of GiveWell’s top charities for the second year
The charity evaluator has included Sightsavers on its list of nine top charities for its work treating children for parasitic infections, known as deworming.
Ghana nominates Sightsavers employee for UN disability committee
The government of Ghana has nominated Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame for a place on the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
