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).
In 2019, Sightsavers 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.
The investment marketplace has teamed up with Sightsavers to support a childhood blindness project in Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states in Nigeria.
A campaign to protect school children from worm infections has been launched in Cameroon. Plus news from Burkina Faso, India and more.
As part of the Keep Sight project in Nigeria, eye surgeons are learning new ways to treat patients with glaucoma.
Women on the frontline, like Aishatu, help make sure that no one is left behind in the fight against the potentially blinding disease trachoma.
On 30 January 2021, Sightsavers joined global celebrations to mark the fight against neglected tropical diseases.
In Côte d’Ivoire, eye health staff have been working to ensure eye surgery is COVID-safe. Plus news from Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Ghana and more