The disease causes many unpleasant symptoms, but is frequently characterised by abnormal enlargement of body parts, including the hands, feet and scrotum (known as hydrocele).
Sightsavers has supported work in Niger to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as lymphatic filariasis thanks to the UK aid flagship NTD programme Ascend West and Central Africa. This three-year programme is made up of a consortium of partners, including Sightsavers, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Mott MacDonald, and the SCI Foundation.
In the first year of Ascend, we helped to carry out 200 operations for hydrocele. The programme is also planning to protect communities from other NTDs such as schistosomiasis and intestinal worms.
Students in Nigeria celebrated by taking part in a football match using sports equipment donated by one of Sightsavers’ corporate partners.
Sightsavers’ Liesbeth Roolvink shares the work we’re doing in programme countries to help transform education systems so that all children can go to school.
In Nigeria, one community is home to a family in which nearly every member has experienced visual impairment. Amina and six of her seven children have had eye surgery to treat cataracts, ensuring they all have the chance to thrive.
Since 1991, Sightsavers been helping Mali’s ministry of health to treat and prevent this blinding disease. Now the country is on track to banish it for good.
Salifat experienced painful swelling in her leg for a year before she was visited by a local health worker, who told her she had lymphatic filariasis and taught her to manage her symptoms.
Spectrum Markets has been supporting Sightsavers’ childhood blindness project in Nigeria, helping to screen children for vision impairments and provide treatment.