Côte d’Ivoire
Sightsavers’ work in Côte d’Ivoire focuses on diseases such as river blindness. In 2017 we distributed 3.5 million treatments and trained 7,000 volunteers to give out medication.
Neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness are a major health problem in Côte d’Ivoire.
It’s believed more than 17.4 million people (76 per cent of the population) are in danger of contracting lymphatic filariasis, a debilitating infection transmitted via mosquito bite.
More than 2.2 million people are also at risk of river blindness, which can cause severe skin irritation, itching, visual impairment and irreversible blindness. It is spread by the bite of infected black flies.
To combat these diseases, Sightsavers distributes medication to treat them and stop the spread of infection. In 2017, we distributed almost 3.5 million treatments for neglected tropical diseases in Côte d’Ivoire and trained 7,497 community volunteers to gather data and give out medication to protect against NTDs.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
Your donation could help to protect sight
DONATEMore from western Africa
September highlights: updates from around the world
News from Zambia, where Sightsavers helped Felix to gain his ophthalmology diploma. Plus news from Guinea, Togo and more.
What we’ve learned from trachoma elimination in Ghana
Sarah Bartlett discusses Sightsavers’ involvement in this milestone, what we’ve learned from the experience and the work that lies ahead.
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.
“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.
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).
Sightsavers’ Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame elected to UN disability committee
Gertrude was one of six candidates elected in the first round of voting, of which three are women, which has improved the committee's gender balance.
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.
May highlights: updates from around the world
News from Mali, where a new initiative is helping children with visual impairments to go to school. Plus updates from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Cameroon.
March highlights: updates from around the world
Including news from Liberia, where Sightsavers has reopened an eye clinic that has been closed for two years. Plus updates from Senegal, Malawi and more.
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