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100 million stories of hope

We’ve protected millions of people from the threat of neglected tropical diseases. Find out why we need to go further.

At school, a female community volunteer measures a girl to see how much medication she needs to protect her from trachoma. Other students sit at their desks in the classroom.

Neglected tropical diseases are a group of infectious diseases that can cause pain and permanent disability. They thrive in rural and low-income areas, trapping communities in cycles of inequality and hardship.

At Sightsavers, we’ve partnered with governments and other organisations for many years to eliminate diseases such as trachoma, river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

Today, we’re proud to say that more than 100 million people are no longer at risk from one or more neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) thanks to our efforts. 

Each of these 100 million people represents a story of hope: parents who can care for their families, children who can stay in school, and communities that can thrive, free from the threat of disease.

However, there are still millions more people who need treatment around the world, and we all have a role to play in reaching them.

WW

How many people is 100 million?

It’s roughly one per cent of the world’s population, or equivalent to the entire population of Egypt.

A community volunteer gives a man medication.

Successful treatment campaigns: distributing drugs at scale

A community volunteer gives a man medication.

“A lot of people will be able to study, others work, go to farm and do other activities,” explains Amina. “If they can’t see due to river blindness, how will they engage in those activities?”

For six years, Amina has been a vital part of the fight against NTDs in Sokoto State, Nigeria. She’s seen first-hand how treatment can transform lives.

Since the 1980s, Sightsavers has trained hundreds of thousands of community volunteers across Africa in partnership with national health ministries. Together, we’ve distributed more than 1.8 billion doses of medication.

Amina holds a dose pole, paperwork and medication.
Amina, a volunteer drug distributor, delivers medication to protect people in Nigeria from river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. Image © Sightsavers/Adeokun Adesegun

These drug campaigns don’t just protect individuals: they can also eliminate diseases as public health threats. But we can only succeed if we work together.

One example of this is the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF), a partnership with governments, philanthropists and other partners to eliminate river blindness and lymphatic filariasis across most of Africa by 2030.

RLMF supports mass drug distribution, and other vital activities like disease surveys, which are key tools when protecting millions of people from NTDs.

In a classroom, children queue to give blood samples. Two health workers wearing medical scrubs and masks are sitting at a desk. The child at the front is holding out their finger.

Focusing our efforts: the role of disease surveys

In a classroom, children queue to give blood samples. Two health workers wearing medical scrubs and masks are sitting at a desk. The child at the front is holding out their finger.

In June 2025, at Akopari primary school in Nigeria, children lined up neatly by the teacher’s desk. They weren’t queuing up to hand in homework, but to give tiny blood samples to health workers.

These samples were tested for lymphatic filariasis – a parasitic disease that causes severe swelling of the limbs and scrotum, and can leave patients with a lifelong disability.

The team at the primary school were conducting the survey to assess how prevalent the disease was in the local area. This survey is part of one of Nigeria’s largest-ever disease mapping efforts, supported by Sightsavers and funded by the Gates Foundation.

Busari Ganiyat.
Busari Ganiyat supervises training and field coordination for lymphatic filariasis surveys in Nigeria. Image © Sightsavers/Taiwo Aina

Busari Ganiyat, a survey coordinator, says: “Being part of this assessment is a privilege and gives me joy. When I am able to help somebody get better through my work, that’s the ultimate goal.”

By pinpointing where treatment is still needed, countries can focus resources more effectively and accelerate disease elimination. This matters now more than ever, as we’re seeing a dwindling amount of international aid being dedicated towards global health.

Join us in the fight for equality

NTDs place a heavy burden on some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities. Eliminating these diseases doesn’t just improve health – it also boosts productivity, improves school attendance and empowers women. The fight against NTDs is a fight for equality.

The World Health Organization has set a target of a 90 per cent reduction in the number of people at risk from neglected tropical diseases by 2030. But recent cuts in international aid are threatening global progress.

Support our mission

Sightsavers is committed to eliminating NTDs, but we can’t do it alone. Learn more about what we’re doing, and how you can help.

Download info pack (pdf)
A girl wearing a hijab is handed a white tablet to protect her from intestinal worms.
After taking the drugs, my stomach didn’t hurt. I want to become a teacher when I grow up.
10-year-old Aisha, who received deworming medication
A girl wearing a hijab is handed a white tablet to protect her from intestinal worms.

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