Our work in Malawi
Sightsavers has been working in Malawi since the 1950s. Our focus in the country is to improve eye health, protect against blinding diseases and make sure children with disabilities receive the support they need.
Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries. Almost 85 per cent of the population lives in remote, rural communities that are far from the country’s few eye health centres.
It’s thought that more than 200,000 people in Malawi have visual impairments, with half caused by cataracts.
Sightsavers started working in Malawi in the 1950s. Much of our work in the country involves helping to improve eye care services, particularly in rural areas, so people with visual impairments can be diagnosed and treated.
In Malawi, 8.2 million people live in areas at risk of trachoma, and more than 33,000 people have the advanced stage of the disease that can lead to blindness. Sightsavers is working to eliminate trachoma and provides vital outreach to isolated communities, enabling health workers to reach as many people as possible.
We’re also training teachers to make sure children with disabilities are able to go to school and learn alongside their peers.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
Previous programmes
How we’re making a difference in Malawi
Saving sight
After years of struggle, Winesi has found happiness and hope for the future thanks to a cataract operation.
Read Winesi’s story
Fighting disease
Sightsavers are working to eliminate neglected tropical diseases, such as trachoma, in the country.
Read the blog
Leaving no one behind
We're training teachers and caregivers how to include children with disabilities in pre-school.
Read the story
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Sightsavers’ Ronnie Stapleton visited pre-schools across Malawi to train teachers how to include children with disabilities. She also learned a lot along the way.
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Sightsavers won the award for its work supporting children with disabilities in Malawi.
Training flipchart for the inclusion of children with disabilities in pre-schools in Malawi
A course designed for caregivers on the inclusion of young children with disabilities in community-based childhood care centres in Malawi.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work