Our work in Benin
In Benin, we focus on treating and preventing neglected tropical diseases. In 2018 we helped to distribute 5.7 million treatments for debilitating diseases 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 spread via the bite of infected black flies, and can lead to blindness. It 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 2018, Sightsavers provided more than 5.7 million treatments in Benin to help protect against both diseases. We also helped to train more than 19,000 volunteer community distributors in Benin, enabling them to gather data and give out medication to protect against these diseases.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
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.
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November updates: highlights from around the world
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October updates: highlights from around the world
In Nigeria, an eye health volunteer has been rewarded for helping to prevent river blindness for more than 20 years. Plus news from Zimbabwe, Ghana and Mali.
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To mark World Sight Day 2019 on 10 October, Sightsavers country offices celebrated by highlighting the need to provide good-quality eye care to everyone.
“I want to be able to dance again”
Sightsavers’ Katya Mira witnessed the first round of eye operations in Benin to treat blinding trachoma, and saw three women’s lives transformed.
Selben’s story
Selben is an ophthalmologist who works for Sightsavers in Kaduna, Nigeria. She manages our programmes and makes sure people are treated for potentially blinding eye conditions.
BBC Africa films first trachoma operations in Benin
A team from ‘La Vie’, BBC Africa’s French-language health programme, followed the story of two women from Benin as they had surgery for blinding trachoma.
Nigerian hotspot declared free from river blindness
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Meet the dancing trachoma surgeon
Aliyu A-Umar, a former trachoma surgeon in Nigeria, has an inspiring way of making people feel at ease about eye care.
July updates: highlights from around the world
News from Zambia, where surgeons are being trained to operate on trachoma patients. Plus updates from Burkina Faso, India and Senegal.
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