Our work in Sierra Leone
Sightsavers has been working in Sierra Leone since the 1960s. Our focus is on treating cataracts and preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases.
Sightsavers is working to eliminate neglected tropical diseases in Sierra Leone, particularly river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.
It’s thought that 5.8 million people need medication to protect them against river blindness, and more than 2.7 million people for lymphatic filariasis. To tackle this, we’ve trained more than 29,000 community volunteers to give out medication and distributed almost 10 million treatments in the country.
We also aim to improve the quality of eye health services in the country and ensure more people can access them.
As part of our inclusive education project in the Bombali district of Sierra Leone, funded by the European Union, we support children with disabilities, particularly girls, to make sure they have a chance to go to school. We are working with partners to improve 45 schools and train teachers so they have the specialist skills to help children learn.
At a glance
Total populationWhat we focus on
Key programmes
Previous programmes
How we’re making a difference in Sierra Leone
Protecting sight
We train eye care workers such as Abubakar and his team so they can save sight across the country.
Meet the team
Access to education
Our inclusive education projects enable children with disabilities to learn alongside their peers.
Read about our work
Disability rights
Girls in particular are often left out of education. We make sure girls with disabilities can go to school.
Read their stories
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Sightsavers-trained doctor appointed deputy minister of health in Sierra Leone
Dr Jalikatu Mustapha trained with Sightsavers between 2012 and 2016, becoming the only female ophthalmologist in the country.
Sightsavers partnership aims to improve global access to eye care
Sightsavers has partnered with the Fred Hollows Foundation and PlenOptika to pilot a new vision care strategy that aims to revolutionise eye care worldwide.
“I feel good whenever I go to school”
Saio has a physical disability that affects her feet and makes walking difficult, meaning she was missing out on a lot of her education. A Sightsavers-supported inclusive education project has provided transport to take her to school and training for her teachers, which has made a huge difference.
“As a woman, you’re always trying to prove that you belong”
Meet Dr Jalikatu, who’s the only female ophthalmologist in Sierra Leone and the head of the national eye care programme.
Eye care and COVID-19: what we’ve learned during the pandemic
Throughout the pandemic, our priority has been to restart our work quickly and safely. Sightsavers staff reveal our how eye care programmes have evolved in the past 18 months.
World’s largest trachoma surveys reach 50th country
Sierra Leone has become the 50th country to be surveyed for trachoma as part of the initiative, with one person being examined for trachoma every 26 seconds since the surveys began in 2012.
Teacher Abdul’s experience of Ebola and COVID-19 in Sierra Leone
To find out the challenges of teaching children, particularly those with disabilities, during health crises we spoke with Abdul Kandeh Turay, a teacher in Rokulan, Sierra Leone.
Voices from Sierra Leone: The experiences of girls with disabilities at school
In Sierra Leone, children with disabilities are often considered not worth educating. We've worked with schools to make sure these children are not left behind.
How one project touched 34 million lives
As the 17-year-long Seeing is Believing project comes to an end, Imran Khan goes behind the scenes to reveal why it has made such an impact.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
Where we work