Sudan
We distribute medication and carries out eye screenings in areas of Sudan affected by civil war. In 2018 we provided more than 295,000 treatments for eye diseases such as trachoma.
Sudan has been devastated by years of civil war, with much of its population facing an inadequate water supply and poor sanitation.
These conditions mean that neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma are rife.
In 2014, Sightsavers began tracking the spread of trachoma in Darfur states, expanding to Khartoum in 2015. This enabled the country’s ministry of health to pinpoint exactly where to run trachoma treatment programmes and offer life-changing support.
In 2016, we began to distribute medication to prevent and treat the disease in central, west and north Darfur – an area the size of France. In 2017 we trained 2,600 local volunteers to give out medication in their communities. Many of these volunteers are women, which enables them to visit homes that men may not otherwise be able to enter because of local customs and culture. In 2018 we helped to distribute more than 295,000 treatments for trachoma.
At a glance
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Key programmes
How we’re making a difference
Adam Elkhair, Sightsavers’ programme officer in Sudan, explains how his home country has been destroyed by civil war – and how Sightsavers is helping to protect the sight of the people left behind.
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How we’re gathering data to fight trachoma in conflict areas
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health in Sudan invited eye health workers from Somalia and Libya to attend a training session to teach them how to gather data as part of the Tropical Data initiative.
Photo of sight-saving surgery is nominated for prestigious UK prize
Adriane Ohanesian’s image of a surgeon operating on a teenager in a makeshift clinic has been put forward for the Wellcome Photography Prize 2019.
Saving sight in the world’s most remote locations
Trachoma, a painful eye disease, can be easily treated with antibiotics. But the challenge is reaching the people who need treatment, particularly if they live in remote areas such as Nadir in South Sudan.
November updates: highlights from around the world
News about a programme that has distributed more than 137,000 pairs of glasses across eight countries. Plus updates from Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique and more.
What we’ve achieved: global highlights from November
A round-up of our work across the world, including news from India, Uganda and Cameroon.
Abrehet’s story
A young mother with trachoma in Ethiopia experienced pain every time she blinked. A quick operation has saved her sight and relieved the constant pain.
Hibret’s story
When Hibret was diagnosed with trachoma, she was devastated to learn she had passed it to her children. But Sightsavers helped her family to be treated.
Rahel’s story
For five years, 18-year-old Rahel was in constant discomfort and fearful of bright light. After her trachoma operation, she is able to study again.
Bringing hope to Darfur: how mass drug administration is tackling trachoma
As a young man, my memories of Darfur are of it being one of the most beautiful areas of Sudan. Yet the situation changed quite quickly – almost overnight.
We save sight in 30 countries worldwide
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