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Our work in Ethiopia

More than 65 million people in Ethiopia live in trachoma-endemic areas – the highest of any country in the world.

A young boy stands next to a dose pole to measure how much medication he needs.

Sightsavers’ work in Ethiopia focuses on treating and preventing trachoma, an infectious eye disease that can cause blindness.

In 2012, we tracked cases of trachoma in Ethiopia as part of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project. The data we collected showed that the disease was a public health problem in 90 per cent of districts: at that time, of the 109 million people who lived in the country, more than 69 million lived in trachoma-endemic areas, the highest of any country in the world.

To tackle this, under the Accelerate programme, Sightsavers and partners are continuing to use the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy to stop the spread of trachoma through surgery, antibiotics, face washing and environmental improvements. In 2020, we helped to distribute 5.3 million antibiotic treatments for trachoma in the country.

At a glance

Total population
  • 107.5 million

  • What we focus on
  • Trachoma

  • Key programmes
  • Accelerate
  • Super School of Five
  • Tropical Data

  • Previous programmes
  • SAFE: trachoma control

  • Having a chance to educate the community about trachoma is a big opportunity for me.
    Asefash, health worker
    Asefash talks to members of the community. She's wearing a green vest and yellow t-shirt.
    Five school students in Zambia in front of a mural depicting superheroes from Sightsavers' Super School of 5 programme.

    How we’re making a difference in Ethiopia

    The Super School of 5 programme introduces superhero characters to encourage school children to wash their hands and face and prevent the spread of diseases such as trachoma.

    About Super School of 5

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