River blindness, one of a group of conditions known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), is spread by the bite of infected black flies that breed near fast-flowing rivers. The disease can cause severe irritation and itching. If it’s not treated, it can eventually lead to blindness.
Sightsavers and partners aim to eliminate river blindness in the country by distributing medication to protect and treat the disease, as well as improving the quality of treatment by training health workers and volunteers to give out medication in the community.
A selection of Sightsavers river blindness photographs featured as part of the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) conference.
How do you provide treatment for neglected tropical diseases like river blindness when you can’t find some of the people who are most at risk?
The accolades, from the the International Association and Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), recognise and celebrate young and upcoming staff and volunteers within the eye health sector.
Sightsavers staff provide a first-hand insight into the five ways we’re making sure children with disabilities aren’t left behind during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kareen Atekem reflects on the challenges and opportunities in reaching Cameroon’s nomadic populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sightsavers’ new research uptake and learning advisors share their efforts to make sure our research makes a real difference to the lives of people across the world.
On 30 January, Sightsavers joined in celebrations for the first ever World NTD Day around the world.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo may have the highest burdens of neglected tropical diseases, but people on the ground are working to protect communities.
Our research shows that a lack of education and financial resources, social stigma and inaccessible physical infrastructure mean fewer people with disabilities are participating in politics in Africa.
For more than 20 years, medication has been distributed in Cameroon to stop the spread of river blindness. Yet people are still testing positive for the disease. We wanted to know why.
Sightsavers' river blindness and lymphatic filariasis programme has delivered 60 million treatments in four countries. Here’s what we’ve learned from the project.
The Cameroon Cataract Development Impact Loan brings together public and private investors alongside eye care delivery experts and charities, including Sightsavers.