Our work in Ethiopia
More than 75 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: of the 99.4 million people who live in the country, more than 75 million live in trachoma-endemic areas, the highest of any country in the world.
The backlog of people who urgently need eyelid surgery to prevent blindness from trichiasis (advanced trachoma) is more than 693,000, again the highest number of any country worldwide.
To tackle this, Sightsavers is helping to roll out the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy, which aims to stop the spread of trachoma through surgery, antibiotics, facewashing and environmental improvements. In 2018, we helped to distribute 10.1 million antibiotic treatments for trachoma in the country.
In Ethiopia we also ran the School Health Integrated Programming (SHIP) project during 2016, which screened schoolchildren for health problems such as poor vision and worm infections, and distributed spectacles and treatments where needed. In total 52,000 children received deworming medication.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key 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.
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How soap and superheroes are changing lives
Geordie Woods explains how the Super School of Five trachoma prevention programme is protecting school children from this devastating disease.
Abrehet’s story
A young mother with trachoma in Ethiopia experienced pain every time she blinked. A quick operation has saved her sight and relieved the constant pain.
Hibret’s story
When Hibret was diagnosed with trachoma, she was devastated to learn she had passed it to her children. But Sightsavers helped her family to be treated.
Rahel’s story
For five years, 18-year-old Rahel was in constant discomfort and fearful of bright light. After her trachoma operation, she is able to study again.
Sister Habiba’s story
Imagine having to walk eight hours to get to work. That’s the challenge facing Sister Habiba Shemsu, an eye care worker in south-west Ethiopia.
Unilever and Sightsavers team up to tackle trachoma in Ethiopia
Sightsavers is teaming up with Unilever’s soap brand Lifebuoy to promote better hygiene practices as part of efforts to eliminate trachoma in Ethiopia.
Pfizer celebrates its 500 millionth trachoma treatment
Pfizer has donated its 500 millionth Zithromax® (azithromycin) antibiotic tablet, used to treat blinding trachoma in countries across Africa and Asia.
Collaboration with the WASH sector is key
We think about the challenges of working in the field of infectious diseases and how working alongside those in the water sector could improve impacts.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work