Guinea
Our work in Guinea focuses on preventing diseases such as river blindness. In 2018 we helped to give out 4.3 million treatments to protect people against these diseases.
It’s thought that more than 6.7 million people in Guinea are at risk of catching diseases such as trachoma and river blindness.
Sightsavers has been working in Guinea since 1991 to to tackle neglected tropical diseases, and to treat eye conditions such as cataracts. We help to train doctors, nurses and village distributors to administer medication that can prevent disease spreading and stop patients suffering further sight loss.
Schistosomiasis and intestinal worms are also endemic in the country. As part of a push to eliminate the diseases, we distribute de-worming medication to schoolchildren that are at risk, support education programmes, and train teachers and volunteers to identify the diseases.
Sightsavers is working to improve Guinea’s healthcare system by training ophthalmologists and bringing in health workers from other West African countries, such as Togo, Niger, Mali and Benin. We also provide surgical equipment and support cataract operations.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
How we’re making a difference in Guinea
Mamadou’s eyesight started to deteriorate when he caught river blindness, but a straightforward dose of medication saved him from losing his sight. He made sure his wife and children were treated too, to prevent them from catching the disease.
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How we’re gathering data to fight trachoma in conflict areas
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health in Sudan invited eye health workers from Somalia and Libya to attend a training session to teach them how to gather data as part of the Tropical Data initiative.
Photo of sight-saving surgery is nominated for prestigious UK prize
Adriane Ohanesian’s image of a surgeon operating on a teenager in a makeshift clinic has been put forward for the Wellcome Photography Prize 2019.
Saving sight in the world’s most remote locations
Trachoma, a painful eye disease, can be easily treated with antibiotics. But the challenge is reaching the people who need treatment, particularly if they live in remote areas such as Nadir in South Sudan.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work