“It’s important the community sees us as their own”

In September 2026, Sightsavers reached a major milestone by helping to deliver two billion treatments to protect people from infectious diseases.

Since the 1980s, we’ve worked in partnership with national health ministries across Africa and Asia to deliver medication for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These vital treatments help in the fight against trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and intestinal worms.

Left untreated, NTDs can cause pain, disability, stigma and lost opportunities for individuals, families and communities. Each treatment represents a person reached: a child able to stay in school, a parent able to work, or a community moving closer to eliminating diseases that have affected families for generations.

The journey to two billion treatments has been built by people, health workers, volunteers and partners. Behind every treatment is someone who chose to open their door, listen to a neighbour, or take medicine to protect them from disease.

Meet four people from Mozambique who have seen what happens when communities unite to beat NTDs.

Veronica helps protect her neighbours in Nacala Velha, Mozambique, from trachoma.

“Being a community drug distributor (CDD) is placing yourself in the position of those who are going to benefit from that mass drug administration campaign. It’s a great initiative which helps the community, mainly those with low incomes.

“One day, I asked my students about trachoma. They said, ‘Yes teacher, we saw that CDD team but we did not take the medicine because they did not explain it to us.’ So, I ended up teaching them about trachoma: what the symptoms are and how to prevent it. Then I ended up administering the drugs to the whole class.

“The work of a CDD is very important because we are from the community. It transmits trust. Trust is important because that is what convinces people to join the campaign and allows the work to go smoothly.

“Through this campaign, I learned the love for one’s neighbour. Love for one’s neighbour means to take care of others.”

Cidalia received medication during the latest treatment campaign to help prevent trachoma in Mozambique.

“I felt good seeing my teacher giving out medicine. The medicine is important because they help us take care of our health. They will help protect our eyes and other parts of our body.

“My sister is a supervisor in this campaign and that makes me feel good.”

Together, bringing elimination closer

From teachers explaining the importance of prevention, to volunteers walking door to door, to national programme teams coordinating large-scale campaigns, every person in this story represents thousands more working towards the same goal.

Yet NTDs continue to affect some of the world’s most underserved communities. Sustained investment, stronger health systems and community-led approaches remain essential to ensuring everyone can access treatment.

As we celebrate two billion treatments delivered, the work is not yet finished. Millions of people remain at risk of NTDs, and sustained commitment from governments, partners and donors will be essential to achieve elimination.

All images © Sightsavers/Thoko Chikondi