Our work in Ghana
In June 2018, Ghana was confirmed as the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate trachoma, thanks to the work of Sightsavers and our partners.
Ghana, on the west coast of Africa, boasts consistent economic growth and political stability, yet several blinding diseases are endemic in the country.
Sightsavers has worked in Ghana since the 1950s, and we’re on track to tackle these diseases for good. In June 2018, Ghana was confirmed as the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate trachoma following, the efforts of the ministry of health and partners including Sightsavers.
Now we are working to eliminate river blindness and lymphatic filariasis too. We tackle these diseases through mass drug administration (MDA), in which medication is given to large sections of the population to prevent the spread of the diseases. In 2019, we helped to distribute more than 4.3 million treatments for neglected tropical diseases across the country, and trained more than 13,000 local volunteers to give out medication in their communities.
Watch the video below to see the story of trachoma elimination in Ghana.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
How we’re making a difference in Ghana
Banishing trachoma
In late 2017, a team of eye care workers raced through cities and villages in Ghana to find any remaining trachoma patients.
Read about our trip
Disability rights
Sightsavers advocacy adviser Gertrude Fefoame, who is based in Ghana, has been elected to the UN's disability committee.
Read about Gertrude
Changing lives
As part of our work to eliminate trachoma, we examined millions of people, diagnosed them and referred them for sight-saving treatment.
Read their stories
Your donation could help to protect sight
DONATEMore from Ghana
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Meet Mary, a sight-saving volunteer
Mary, a dedicated mother of seven, used to work as a teacher. Now, she is saving sight in Asubende village in Ghana, by distributing medication to protect people from river blindness. Here you can meet some of the people she has helped.
“Grace gave me the courage to empower people with disabilities”
On International Women's Day, disability ambassador Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame remembers Grace Preko, her friend, sister and role model who showed her there was life after blindness.
Ghana waves goodbye to trachoma
In June 2018 Ghana officially became trachoma-free, showing how your kind donations make a real difference.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work