Sightsavers are an international charity which works with partners to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people in the developing world.
The program works to aid people living in poverty around the world who suffer from cataracts, childhood blindness, glaucoma, river blindness, and trachoma. While financial and logistical support of eye operations is a focus of Sightsavers, the organization also takes on educational, preventative, and rehabilitative initiatives. The program works to educate, train, and provide sustainability to people who are blind.The program which is also known as The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) concentrates on rural areas and urban slums where 80% of the population live. We've introduced a sustainable system of eye care which links up treatment, prevention, inclusive education and rehabilitation services. Realizing that trachoma is an endemic in many areas of the Rift Valley and Eastern provinces, Sightsavers and partners are tackling the disease by advocating the World Health Organization's SAFE strategy which teaches prevention as well as providing treatment for the potentially blinding disease.
In Tanzania the program works in partnership with government and local organizations they have also helped in establish a health system which links up eye care, education and rehabilitation services in the most needy regions in the country.
In Uganda the program works with local partners, they have introduced a sustainable system which links up eye care, education and rehabilitation services in Uganda. They also support the distribution of the drug Mectizan® to help prevent river blindness.
