All five of the most common neglected tropical diseases are present here: trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis (known as ‘snail fever’), and soil-transmitted helminths (AKA intestinal worms).
Sightsavers has been working in the country since the 1970s, helping to support and strengthen local eye care systems to tackle preventable blindness. We provide specialist training for health workers, increase public awareness of eye care and lobby the government to ensure eye care is universally available.
Our programmes in Tanzania mainly focus on preventing and treating trachoma, and providing cataract operations for those who need them. We also work to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
Two-year-old Bakir was born with cataracts that severely affected his sight. But a straightforward operation restored his vision and his hope.
Read Bakir’s story
After having an operation to treat trachoma, Fatuma learned about the importance of washing her face to prevent the disease reoccuring.
Read about trachoma prevention
Sightsavers’ Sarah Filbey visited an island near Zanzibar to find out how we’re helping to restore sight in remote, far-flung communities.
Read about Sarah’s trip
Three Sightsavers nominees from Tanzania have received recognition in the 2020 IAPB Vision Excellence awards.
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.
Paolo's family could not understand why he kept having problems with his eyes. Thankfully, training for a Sightsavers-supported programme was taking place nearby.
A young boy has his sight restored in Nigeria, plus news from Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania and Ghana.
Fatuma is a grandmother from Ruangwa, Tanzania suffering with advanced trachoma. We follow her journey from near-blindness to the chance to see once again.
Many people with disabilities work in the informal sector. Unless they can leave their house every day, they struggle to meet their basic needs. For them, the situation is dire.
As we thank all our health workers on World Health Day, meet six who have worked with Sightsavers to help improve eye care for people in their communities.
Sightsavers is launching a three-year programme to provide quality eye care to rural populations in the Morogoro and Singida regions.
News from India, featuring a Sightsavers-supported judoka who won a bronze medal at a Commonwealth competition. Plus the latest from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia.