Our work in Ethiopia
More than 76 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 build on the work of UK aid’s SAFE trachoma control programme, and using the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy to stop the spread of trachoma through surgery, antibiotics, face washing and environmental improvements. In 2019, we helped to distribute 15.2 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
Sister Habiba Shemsu is an eye care worker in the south-west Arba Minch district, and she often walks eight hours a day to get to work. Yet she says it’s worth it to help save sight in rural Africa.
Read her storyYour donation could help to protect sight
DONATEMore from east Africa
June 2021 update: highlights from around the world
A round-up of our work that your donations are helping to support, including news from India, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Malawi.
Building a career in IT with the Bridge Academy
In Kenya, a Sightsavers initative is helping young people with disabilities launch their careers. Here, some of the students share their stories.
Why tackling disability discrimination is key to employment projects
As part of our Connecting the Dots project in Uganda, we tested a new way of boosting employment rates by influencing communities, families and businesses to act more positively toward people with disabilities.
February 2021 updates: highlights from around the world
An inclusive work programme in Kenya has helped farmers with disabilities launch a lucrative business. Plus news from Pakistan, Mozambique, Malawi and more.
Is data integration the answer to eliminating trachoma in Ethiopia?
Biruck Kebede, who leads Sightsavers’ NTD work in Ethiopia, explains how data can help to eliminate diseases such as trachoma.
How one project touched 34 million lives
As the 17-year-long Seeing is Believing project comes to an end, Imran Khan goes behind the scenes to reveal why it has made such an impact.
The businesses embracing disability inclusion
Meet the teams that Sightsavers partners with around the world to help them foster more disability inclusive workplaces.
FCDO publishes progress report on disability inclusion
The report highlights the progress made since the strategy was published and shows the key lessons that have been learnt during that time.
Leaving no one behind in development programming
Moses Chege, Sightsavers Kenya country director, explains how Sightsavers and partners were able to reach the worst-effected people suffering from trachoma.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work