Eye health / Reports /

A SAFE solution: Sightsavers’ fast-track initiative to eliminate blinding trachoma

The International Coalition for Trachoma Control’s global strategy to eliminate blinding trachoma indicates that at least 110 million people live in areas where trachoma is endemic.

About 4.6 million are in the advanced stages, trichiasis, which steadily and painfully progresses into blindness. Another 210 million people live in areas where there are strong indications of trachoma prevalence. In those areas, an additional 3.6 million cases of trichiasis can be expected.

The SAFE strategy (which stands for surgery, antibiotics, face washing and environmental changes) acknowledges the need to address trachoma within the context of international development. Publication date: October 2011

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Sightsavers and eye health

Two health care workers walk through the streets during a mass drug administration campaign for trachoma in Egypt.

News / Fighting disease /

Thanks to the support of Sightsavers and other partners, more than two million people in Egypt are no longer at risk of losing their sight to trachoma.

November 2025

A woman in traditional African dresswear walks along a street while balancing a tray of fruit on her head.

Stories / Fighting disease /

This is the story of five women from Touba, Senegal. Each of them had advanced trachoma, and they all received sight-saving operations as part of Senegal’s journey to eliminate the disease.

Nar, who had successful treatment for trachoma, sits outside with her two grandchildren. They are all smiling.

News / Fighting disease /

Thanks to support from Sightsavers and other organisations, millions of people in Senegal are no longer at risk from losing their sight to the eye disease.

July 2025

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A SAFE solution: Sightsavers’ fast-track initiative to eliminate blinding trachoma

The International Coalition for Trachoma Control’s global strategy to eliminate blinding trachoma indicates that at least 110 million people live in areas where trachoma is endemic.

Egypt eliminates trachoma, a disease first recorded by ancient Egyptians

The women of Touba

Senegal reaches historic milestone by eliminating trachoma