Benin
Our work in Benin focuses on treating and preventing neglected tropical diseases. In 2017 we helped to distribute 4.3 million treatments for river blindness in the country.
Sightsavers is working to protect more than 3.9 million people in Benin from avoidable blindness by eliminating onchocerciasis, otherwise known as river blindness.
This debilitating disease, caused by parasite infections, is thought to be endemic in 51 of Benin’s 77 districts.
As well as treating river blindness, we also provide medication to tackle lymphatic filariasis, another neglected tropical disease that causes severe disfigurement.
In 2017, Sightsavers provided more than 6.3 million treatments in Benin to help protect against both diseases. We also helped to train more than 10,000 volunteer community distributors in Benin, enabling them to gather data and give out medication to protect against these diseases.
At a glance
Total population
What we focus on
How we’re making a difference in Benin
Many areas of the country are inaccessible by road, so our eye care workers travel many miles on foot to distribute sight-saving medication to the people who need it.
Read about their journeyYour donation could help to protect sight
DONATEMore from western Africa
Celebrations held in Ghana to mark trachoma elimination
Government leaders, health workers, volunteers and international aid workers have gathered in Ghana’s capital, Accra, to mark the achievement.
The final days of trachoma in Ghana
Sightsavers’ Kate McCoy followed a team of eye care workers as they raced through cities and villages to find any remaining patients: they needed to treat them all to eliminate the disease for good.
July highlights: updates from around the world
An update from Benin, where eye care staff have been travelling 3km on foot to treat ‘the disease at the end of the road’. Plus news from Nigeria, Pakistan and more.
“Eliminating trachoma will make this world a better place”
David Agyemang, Sightsavers’ programme manager in Ghana, describes the optimism and celebration as the disease is banished from the country.
More UK funding announced for disability-inclusive employment initiatives
The funding, which was announced by UK Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt, aims to address disability inclusion in developing countries.
Image of Sightsavers’ work in Ghana wins photo competition
A picture taken by photographer Peter Nicholls has been awarded first prize by the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI).
June highlights: updates from around the world
A round-up of the latest work that your donations help to support. Featuring news from India, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda and Nigeria.
In Ghana, we’ve beaten trachoma and changed millions of lives
In May 2018, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate trachoma. Read the amazing stories here.
Trachoma is eliminated in Ghana
Ghana has become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa and the Commonwealth to eliminate trachoma, as validated by the World Health Organization.
Mariam’s story
Mariam is a Sightsavers trained community directed distributor, who loves her job. She gets to help protect people in her village from the threat of river blindness.
April highlights: updates from around the world
An update from Nigeria, where Sightsavers has donated new motorbikes to a group of NTD workers. Plus news from Guinea, Cameroon and Mozambique.
Why I’m standing for the UN disability committee
Growing up with visual impairment in Ghana, Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame experienced discrimination during her education and early employment years.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work