Meet 60-year-old Emmanuel: he lost his sight while earning a living as a fisherman. How? Because of a disease called river blindness.
River blindness is caused by a parasitic worm transmitted by the bite of a river-breeding black fly. As its name suggests, river blindness can lead to visual impairments and can eventually cause sufferers to go blind.
“I noticed a long time ago I had a problem with my eyes”
When Emmanuel was younger he earned his living by fishing in the Pru River in his home town of Asubende in Ghana – it’s fishing in his local river that lead to him contracting river blindness. He said: “I noticed a long time ago I had a problem with my eyes but it started gradually, it didn’t come all of a sudden – but week by week.”
As well as eventual blindness, onchocerciasis can cause an intense and unbearable itching that can’t be stopped without treatment. But luckily for Emmanuel, and others in his village, generous donations from people like you have meant that the Mectizan® treatment is now distributed in Absubende, with the help of Sightsavers-supported volunteers.
Protecting children in the village
Mectizan® doesn’t only help symptoms, it also protects other people in the village from contracting the disease. Now, thanks to the treatment, Emmanuel’s symptoms have subsided and he is able to work, socialise and earn a living. “I already have blindness, but we are now protecting the others, the little ones,” he explains.
Will you donate today to help us make sure that the people most in need of treatment, such as Emmanuel, continue to receive it?
“If we don't protect the children from river blindness, they could soon go blind too”
Will you donate to help people like Emmanuel?
DONATEMore stories
Mercia’s story
Mercia, from Mozambique, has worked at Sightsavers for nine years, and is determined to make sure everyone can get good-quality eye care.
Postan’s story
Opthalmic nurse Postan Phiri is a popular figure in the communities he visits in rural Zambia, referring patients with cataracts for sight-saving surgery.
Free from cataracts, and back at school!
Gladys loved going to school. But when an accident damaged her eye, her deteriorating vision meant she was forced to stay at home. Thanks to Sightsavers, she's now back in the classroom and is excelling in her studies.
