Where we work
Sightsavers works in more than 30 countries in some of the poorest parts of the world.
Our work focuses on low and middle income countries in Africa and Asia.
In 2021 we carried out more than six million eye examinations across the countries where we work, and distributed more than 172 million treatments to prevent and treat debilitating diseases.
Our first programmes in the 1950s started in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, with several other African countries following in the next two decades. In the 1960s and 70s we also expanded into Asia with our first projects in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and continued to extend our work across Africa. We now work in 34 countries, and have project offices in 25. Most recently, we started work in Yemen in 2018, distributing treatments for neglected tropical diseases.
Our work in Sri Lanka came to an end in 2016, marking an exciting milestone: it’s the first time we’ve been able to finish our work in a country, satisfied that the eye care services we’ve set up can continue without us.
Our history
Sightsavers has been changing lives and restoring sight worldwide since 1950.
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Pakistan
“Restoring people’s sight and empowering people with disabilities gives me immense satisfaction.”
Munazza Gillani, country director
More from Pakistan
Zambia
“Saving people’s sight isn’t just my job: it's my calling. I’m happy to help children have a brighter future.”
Mr Ndalela, ophthalmic doctor
Read Mr Ndalela’s story
Malawi
“You really feel that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. It’s an amazing feeling – very rewarding.”
Dr Moira, ophthalmologist
Read Moira’s story
Learn more about how we save sight worldwide
About SightsaversOur work around the globe
“We’re playing a critical role to banish trachoma”
Since 2012, Sightsavers has been using smartphones to collect high-quality data, so that countries can effectively map the disease and focus their elimination efforts.
A day in the life: “You really feel that you’ve made a difference”
Dr Moira Chinthambi received a Sightsavers scholarship to train as an ophthalmologist and now works on our inclusive eye health programme in Malawi.
A day in the life: “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time”
Alinafe Zaina is studying clinical ophthalmology in Malawi with the help of a scholarship provided by Sightsavers’ inclusive eye health programme.
A day in the life: the only ophthalmologist in Karamoja
“My name is Dr Gladys Atto. I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child, and I am very proud to be an ophthalmologist and have an impact on people’s lives.”
A day in the life: “It’s a blessing to have the power to change someone’s life”
Dr Hawa Naiga Magembe is studying ophthalmology in Uganda with the help of a scholarship provided by Sightsavers’ inclusive eye health programme.
The last mile: paving the way to eliminating river blindness in Mali
Since 1991, Sightsavers been helping Mali’s ministry of health to treat and prevent this blinding disease. Now the country is on track to banish it for good.
Captain Clean: teaching children about hygiene through games
Schools in Kenya, Ethiopia and Guinea are using educational board games to teach children about the importance of good hygiene to help eliminate trachoma.
Catching the urban mosquito: how our research protects communities from NTDs
To tackle disease, we need to know who is affected. In Liberia, Sightsavers has studied mosquitoes and tested children to see how urban migration affects the spread of lymphatic filariasis.
“Now we can get the help we need”
In Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Right to Health project worked with transgender communities to remove the barriers they face when accessing inclusive eye health services.
