Mozambique

Sightsavers is working to reduce sight loss in Mozambique and is focusing on eliminating trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.

To stop the spread of the disease we are helping to roll out the SAFE strategy, a public health approach endorsed by the World Health Organization which focuses on surgery, antibiotics, face washing and environmental improvements.

The SAFE acronym describes the four methods used to control trachoma.

• Surgery: to stop eyelashes from rubbing against the eyeball and helping to halt the cycle of repeated infection that can lead to blindness.
• Antibiotics: medication is used to treat the trachoma infection and reduce the spread of the disease. The treatment is usually repeated annually for three or more years.
• Facial cleanliness: teaching local communities the importance of face washing, to prevent the infection being spread through contact with an infected person’s eyes or nose.
• Environmental improvements: to improve access to water and basic sanitation to reduce exposure and re-infection, and eliminate the conditions in which flies breed.

We are also improving eye care services by providing transport, equipment and medicine, training ophthalmic technicians and conducting cataract operations.