Several neglected tropical diseases are present in the country: more than 7.4 million people require medicine to protect them against river blindness, and trachoma is thought to be a problem in 28 districts.
We are helping the country’s ministry of health to distribute medication that stops river blindness from spreading. In 2018, we distributed more than 546,000 treatments for the disease and trained 5,100 local volunteers, who are based within communities and deliver medication to people in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Sightsavers began working in Kenya in 1952, when blindness affected up to 7% of rural Kenyans.
How an evaluation tool to assess children’s development has been adapted for young children with disabilities in Kenya.
In Nigeria and Kenya, two innovative education projects are enabling children with disabilities to reach their potential.
Since 2012, Sightsavers has been using smartphones to collect high-quality data, so that countries can effectively map the disease and focus their elimination efforts.
We’re working with partners in Kenya to give young people the skills and practical experience they need to begin a career in IT.
We’re working with governments in Uganda and Malawi to improve access to quality eye care services and prevent avoidable blindness.
“My name is Dr Gladys Atto. I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child, and I am very proud to be an ophthalmologist and have an impact on people’s lives.”
Dr Hawa Naiga Magembe is studying ophthalmology in Uganda with the help of a scholarship provided by Sightsavers’ inclusive eye health programme.
Meet Samson, a trachoma surgeon who’s saving people’s sight by performing pop-up operations and outreach in remote communities in Kenya.