Our work in Ethiopia
More than 65 million people in Ethiopia live in trachoma-endemic areas – the highest of any country in the world.
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 populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
Previous programmes
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 5Your donation could help to protect sight
DONATEMore from east Africa
A day in the life: the only ophthalmologist in Karamoja
“My name is Dr Gladys Atto. I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child, and I am very proud to be an ophthalmologist and have an impact on people’s lives.”
A day in the life: “It’s a blessing to have the power to change someone’s life”
Dr Hawa Naiga Magembe is studying ophthalmology in Uganda with the help of a scholarship provided by Sightsavers’ inclusive eye health programme.
“I was the first trachoma surgeon in my region”
Meet Samson, a trachoma surgeon who’s saving people’s sight by performing pop-up operations and outreach in remote communities in Kenya.
Captain Clean: teaching children about hygiene through games
Schools in Kenya, Ethiopia and Guinea are using educational board games to teach children about the importance of good hygiene to help eliminate trachoma.
Sightsavers and partners launch US$6 million inclusion and labour rights programme
The Global Labor Program, part of the Inclusive Futures initiative, aims to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities and improve labour rights at two large Kenyan companies.
The IT Bridge Academy: what’s next for students?
In Kenya, students who have been studying IT as part of a Sightsavers initiative are now looking ahead to their graduation, internships and future careers.
The Global Disability Summit: views from Pakistan and Kenya
Our country office teams in Pakistan and Kenya spoke to the organisations of people with disabilities they work with about their hopes for the upcoming Global Disability Summit.
World NTD Day: highlights from around the world
On 30 January 2022, Sightsavers staff and supporters joined the global event to raise awareness about eliminating neglected tropical diseases.
Advancing disability data in Kenya through partnership
Sightsavers worked with the Kenyan government and partners to create the country’s first inclusive data action plan, which will help collect high-quality data about people with disabilities and the barriers they face.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work