It’s believed more than 21 million people are in danger of contracting lymphatic filariasis, a debilitating infection transmitted via mosquito bite.
More than 4.1 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.
Thanks to the UK aid flagship neglected tropical disease (NTD) programme, Ascend West and Central Africa, as a consortium, Sightsavers along with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Mott Macdonald, and the SCI Foundation, is supporting ministries to combat these diseases. In addition to supporting efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis and river blindness, the programme is also working to protect communities from schistosomiasis and trachoma.
Sightsavers’ Peter Anomah-Kordieh Kwasi shares the journey that led to the establishment of a parliamentary caucus that champions disability issues.
Gertrude, who was nominated by the government of Ghana, was elected alongside five other women and will serve on the committee until 2026.
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.
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.
Sightsavers’ Joseph Mensah explains how the Ghana Somubi Dwumadie programme is helping to change negative social attitudes and behaviour.
On 30 January 2022, Sightsavers staff and supporters joined the global event to raise awareness about eliminating neglected tropical diseases.