We work with the government and partners in Zambia and countries across Africa to deliver vital charity work and make sure everyone can claim their rights.
Sightsavers in Zambia
Zambia is a large, land-locked country in south-central Africa that shares its border with eight nations.
The country has one of the largest and youngest urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa, with the majority of workers employed in agriculture or copper mining, which are Zambia’s main economic drivers.
While government-run health care services are free or heavily subsidised, people on lower incomes can struggle to afford medical care and those in rural areas face additional travel costs to reach their nearest doctor or hospital.
Despite the strains on the health care system, Zambia is making good progress in moving towards eliminating the infectious disease trachoma after several successful treatment campaigns.
In 2012, The Persons with Disabilities Act was passed to strengthen the remit of the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities and champion the rights of people with disabilities in all areas of life in Zambia.
Facts about Zambia
- Population: 20 million
- Capital: Lusaka
- Official language: English
- Human development index (HDI) ranking: 154 (medium)
In 2015, Zambia had just 30 ophthalmologists
10.9% of adults are thought to have a disability
People in rural areas are more likely to be disabled
Sources: IAPB, Zambia National Disability Survey
Some homes in Kalizya Village in Eastern Zambia.
What are the challenges in Zambia, and how can these be addressed?
Eye care
Many people in rural areas of Zambia struggle to access basic eye care.
While many Zambians live below the poverty line, those in rural areas experience higher levels of inequality, particularly when it comes to health care. Our charity work in the country focuses on building inclusive eye care services so everyone can get the help they need.
Inclusion and equality
Not all Zambians can access opportunities equally.
People with disabilities and women and girls generally have lower levels of education, are less likely to be employed and have poorer health outcomes. Our charity work on disability rights in Zambia focuses on improving everyone’s access to health care, education and employment.
Five-year-old Langford and his mother Evelyn smile outside their home in Zambia.
“Sightsavers was able to provide transport and take Langford to have his cataract operation, so I’m very thankful.”
Evelyn with her five-year-old son Langford, who was successfully treated for cataracts
How you can help
Our work in Zambia is helping to improve rural eye care services, but there’s still more we need to do.
With your support, we want to reach even more people in remote areas of the country and ensure everyone has the chance to go to school and get a job. To do this, we need your help.
Charity donations, legacies, corporate partnerships and gifts from charitable foundations are a vital source of funding for our programmes in Zambia. We also welcome opportunities to work in partnership with governments, institutions and development organisations.
Contact us: If you have any questions about our work in Zambia, would like more information about our programmes or wish to discuss ways you can donate or support us, email [email protected]
Latest stories from Zambia
Sightsavers awarded grant to help eliminate trachoma in Zambia
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded Sightsavers a grant of US$2.19 million to help fight the disease.
January 2024
Treating cataracts in Zambia: “I know their future is going to be bright”
Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of blindness. On World Sight Day, learn what Sightsavers is doing to protect the sight of children with cataracts in Zambia.
September 2023
Sightsavers campaign ambassador inspires Netflix film about albinism
The film ‘Can You See Us?’ is based on the life of John Chiti, who is a Zambian albinism rights campaigner and Sightsavers’ ambassador for the African Disability Protocol campaign.
September 2023
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.
December 2020
The white cane: from my adversary to my ally
"Had my white cane given me COVID-19? I began resenting it, but it was not possible to do away with it. The more ill I became, the more I needed it."
Sightsavers, October 2020
How soap and superheroes are changing lives
Geordie Woods explains how the Super School of Five trachoma prevention programme is protecting school children from this devastating disease.
October 2019
Discover where Sightsavers works in Africa and Asia
Where we work