Sightsavers ambassador Sunetra Sarker thanks supporters

Sightsavers ambassador Sunetra Sarker has written to local newspapers across Great Britain to thank Sightsavers supporters for their generosity.

In her letter to the editor, actress and broadcaster Sunetra wrote about the life-changing impact supporters’ donations have made in Africa and Asia, particularly in the fight against the neglected tropical disease trachoma.

Sunetra has been a Sightsavers supporter for more than a decade and visited India as an ambassador in early 2020 to see our work in action. Her letter was published in local newspapers in England, Scotland and Wales, including the Surrey Advertiser, Western Mail and Yorkshire Evening Post.

Sunetra shared the story of Achiwa from Malawi who was able to regain her independence after receiving surgery for advanced trachoma, which can cause permanent blindness if left untreated. The disease had caused Achiwa’s eyelashes to turn inwards and scrape against her eyes, leaving her in pain, unable to earn a living and reliant on her granddaughter. After the operation, Achiwa was able to return to her work farming maize and weaving mats.

In September 2022, Sightsavers celebrated the elimination of trachoma in Malawi, which was the culmination of years of work with the Malawi government and other partners. This achievement, which was validated by the World Health Organization, means that 9.5 million people in the country are no longer at risk of losing their sight to trachoma.

“We are another step closer to beating the disease globally, but other countries still need your support. It costs as little as 18p to protect an individual from trachoma for a year and start a wider ripple effect that transforms lives and communities,” wrote Sunetra.