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WASHing away blinding trachoma

Trachoma is an infectious eye disease that is one of the world’s leading causes of preventable blindness.

It is one of 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect more than 1 billion of the world’s poorest people. Yet we have the tools to prevent transmission of trachoma, and to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020.

Improved access to safe water and adequate sanitation, and the implementation of good hygiene practices, are essential for trachoma prevention and control.

Want to read more about our work?

Neglected tropical diseases
A female researcher speaks to a woman about her experience of female genital schistosomiasis.
Sightsavers blog

Why community collaboration is important in our research

Our research on female genital schistosomiasis has highlighted the need to establish a safe and supportive environment for participants when studying sensitive topics.

Omosefe Osinoiki, April 2024
A female community drug distributor measures a girl to see how much medication she needs to protect her from trachoma.
Sightsavers from the field

“Our programme has transformed communities”

Now in its sixth year, the Accelerate programme has already delivered 53 million treatments to protect people from trachoma, and managed 91,000 advanced cases of the disease.

March 2024
Eye care staff perform trachoma surveys on children in Cote D'Ivoire.
sightsavers_news

Sightsavers’ Accelerate programme gets US$36.5 million funding boost to banish trachoma

The extra funding from international donors will help speed up the elimination of trachoma in Africa by expanding and extending the programme.

March 2024