Burkina Faso
Sightsavers is working to eliminate trachoma and river blindness in the country. In 2017 we trained more than 600 volunteers to give out medication to fight disease.
Neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma and river blindness are a major health problem in Burkina Faso.
It’s estimated that 16 million people are at risk of contracting one or more of these debilitating diseases which, if left untreated, can lead to blindness.
To combat this, Sightsavers started work in Burkina Faso in 2011. We carry out mass drug administration programmes in three health districts in the Cascades region, distributing medication to treat and prevent river blindness and trachoma.
In 2017, Sightsavers distributed more than 103,000 treatments across the country and trained 649 community drug distributors, enabling them to gather data and give out medication to protect against these diseases.
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How we’re making a difference
Mariam works as a volunteer in Karfiguela village in Burkina Faso, distributing medication to protect against river blindness. “What really makes me happy is helping to prevent people from catching the disease,” she explains.
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