Liberia
Many people in Liberia suffer from diseases such as river blindness. In 2017, we helped to distribute more than 2.5 million treatments to stop the spread of these diseases.
Sightsavers is working to eliminate two neglected tropical diseases in Liberia – river blindness and lymphatic filiariasis – by distributing medication each year to communities at risk.
Alongside the medication programme, we produce educational materials to raise awareness of the importance of eye health. We train local volunteers to distribute medication within their communities, and we carry out screenings to check for river blindness and lymphatic filariasis so patients can be referred for treatment.
About 50 per cent of people in Liberia live in rural areas that often lack health services. The poor road networks exacerbate the problem: only 7 per cent of Liberia’s road are paved. We work with the Ministry of Health and others to identify and fill gaps in eye care, especially in remote areas.
Sightsavers also helps to diagnose and treat cataracts and refractive error. Health workers, teachers and community volunteers are given short eye health training courses so they can screen people in the community and in schools, ensuring children with eye conditions receive the support and treatment they need.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
How we’re making a difference
Sightsavers’ Imran Khan explains how we’re working with the Liberian government to eliminate avoidable blindness in the country, and improve health and education for future generations.
Read Imran’s blogYour donation could help to protect sight
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November updates: highlights from around the world
News about a programme that has distributed more than 137,000 pairs of glasses across eight countries. Plus updates from Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique and more.
Sightsavers-supported eye clinic opens in Liberia
Sightsavers helped to renovate the operating theatre and screening rooms at Phebe Hospital to provide eye care to local people.
October updates: highlights from around the world
In October, celebrations took place in many of Sightsavers' programme countries to mark World Sight Day. Plus news from Kenya, Mozambique and more.
September highlights: updates from around the world
News from Zambia, where Sightsavers helped Felix to gain his ophthalmology diploma. Plus news from Guinea, Togo and more.
Sierra Leone Eye Care Programme
More than 90 per cent of all blindness in Sierra Leone is also avoidable, significantly higher than the global average. This project aims to help reduce avoidable blindness and vision impairment.
“We’ve learned to treat all children equally”
Sightsavers' Kate McCoy travelled to northern Sierra Leone to visit a school where teachers are being specially trained to support children with disabilities.
May highlights: updates from around the world
News from Mali, where a new initiative is helping children with visual impairments to go to school. Plus updates from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Cameroon.
April highlights: updates from around the world
An update from Nigeria, where Sightsavers has donated new motorbikes to a group of NTD workers. Plus news from Guinea, Cameroon and Mozambique.
March highlights: updates from around the world
Including news from Liberia, where Sightsavers has reopened an eye clinic that has been closed for two years. Plus updates from Senegal, Malawi and more.
Meeting Sierra Leone’s miracle workers
A group of Sightsavers staff travelled to Makeni Hospital in Sierra Leone to meet the amazing eye care workers your donations are helping to support.
Children with disabilities in Sierra Leone given the chance to go to school
The Education for All project will focus on girls with disabilities, who are often excluded because of prejudice or a lack of funding.
The challenges facing health and education in Liberia
In 2013 a devastating Ebola outbreak decimated Liberia's already fragile healthcare system. Yet during this period, Sightsavers continued to operate.
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Where we work