DONATE

Photo of sight-saving surgery is nominated for UK prize

June 2019
A surgeon operates, using only the light of a window, on a patient to save their sight from trachoma.
The image was captured by photographer Adriane Ohanesian.

A photograph of Sightsavers-supported eye surgery in a remote region of South Sudan has been nominated for a leading UK photography prize.

Adriane Ohanesian’s image of a trachoma surgeon operating on a teenager in a makeshift clinic has been put forward for the Wellcome Photography Prize 2019 in the ‘Medicine in Focus’ category.

Adriane took the photo while accompanying a Sightsavers team to Nasir County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state. The team was there to perform surgery for a range of eye conditions, including cataracts and trachoma. The latter is one of the most common causes of blindness in Nasir.

Anthony Wani, director of Sightsavers’ South Sudan country office, said: “It is wonderful to hear of this nomination. We hope it will help to raise awareness of the eye health issues affecting many people in South Sudan, both in Nasir and beyond, and the lengths people go to so that those affected can reclaim their sight.”

The winner of the Wellcome Prize will be announced on 3 July, and the winning and shortlisted entries will be on show at the Lethaby Gallery in London on 4-13 July.

A wide shot of the rural landscape in Nasir, South Sudan. The fields are very wet and the grass is a lush green.

Saving sight in remote South Sudan

People in remote parts of the country often travel for days to seek medical treatment, which is why the work of Sightsavers’ outreach teams is so vital.

Read the story

Read all our latest news stories

News from Sightsavers
Enock, who uses a wheelchair, poses for a photo with two teachers from his inclusive school.
sightsavers_news

Sightsavers responds to report into FCDO’s work on disability inclusion

A report on the UK government’s development strategy and how inclusive it is of people with disabilities was published on Thursday 4 April.

April 2024
Eye care staff perform trachoma surveys on children in Cote D'Ivoire.
sightsavers_news

Sightsavers’ Accelerate programme gets US$36.5 million funding boost to banish trachoma

The extra funding from international donors will help speed up the elimination of trachoma in Africa by expanding and extending the programme.

March 2024
Two school students in Zambia huddle together at a desk. One is writing, the other is looking at the work.
sightsavers_news

Sightsavers at the CIES education conference 2024

We're attending the conference in Miami on 6-14 March to share our expertise, engage with the education community and explore how we can transform inclusive education.

March 2024

Learn about our work to save sight