Sightsavers in Guinea-Bissau

We’re working with Guinea-Bissau’s ministry of health to deliver vital charity work that protects people from neglected tropical diseases.

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Located in West Africa on the Atlantic coast, Guinea-Bissau is a small country with a sparsely populated archipelago called the Bijagos Islands.

The health care system in Guinea-Bissau is underfunded and lacks essential resources, including qualified medical staff. Health services are concentrated in the capital, Bissau, leaving many people in rural areas without medical care. Poor access to safe drinking water, limited electricity and ongoing political instability have hampered progress towards universal health coverage.

Five neglected tropical diseases are prevalent in Guinea-Bissau. Sightsavers is working with the country’s ministry of health to control the spread of these diseases by distributing medication and promoting cleanliness, as well as organising health screenings in remote villages.

Protecting people from disease enables communities to return to fertile agricultural land close to rivers, which they may have left because of the risk of infection. This ensures they can earn an income from farming. Our work also helps to avoid children missing school because of severe medical conditions or to care for sick relatives, enabling them to continue their education.

Sightsavers began working in Guinea-Bissau in 2001.

Guinea-Bissau facts

  • Population: 2 million
  • Capital: Bissau
  • Official language: Portuguese
  • Human development index (HDI) ranking: 174 (low)

A white and yellow icon representing an eye with cataracts. The pupil and iris are covered with dashed yellow lines.

180,000 people in Guinea-Bissau are thought to have sight loss

In 2012, there were only 3 ophthalmologists in the country

A white and yellow icon of a small bottle of medicine, with one round tablet leaning on its side.

1.9 million people in the country need treatment for lymphatic filariasis

Sources: IAPB, RAAB, ESPEN

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We’re close to eliminating trachoma in Guinea-Bissau, but there’s still work to be done on the Bijagos Islands.
Iliezer Gomes Bidjonquer, Sightsavers programme officer

How you can help

Our charity work in Guinea-Bissau is helping to protect communities from diseases, but there’s still more we need to do to reach everyone.

With your support, we want to expand our treatment campaigns to other areas of the country where neglected tropical diseases are endemic and help improve public health services so everyone can access medical care. To do this, we need your help.

Charity donations, legacies, corporate partnerships and gifts from charitable foundations are a vital source of funding for our work in Guinea-Bissau. We also welcome opportunities to work in partnership with governments, institutions and development organisations.

I’d like to get involved...

Contact us: If you have questions about our work in Guinea-Bissau, would like details about our programmes or wish to discuss ways to donate or support us, email [email protected]

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