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A lifetime of excruciating pain – without help, it would have gotten worse...

You can help free children in Cameroon from the agony of trachoma.

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I would like to make a

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$32

provide trachoma screenings for 30 children like Aboubakar and Gamangassou.

$60

help pay towards a life-changing operation for a patient suffering with advanced trachoma.

$115

protect 600 people against blinding trachoma.

provide trachoma screenings for 30 children like Aboubakar and Gamangassou.

help pay towards a life-changing operation for a patient suffering with advanced trachoma.

protect 600 people against blinding trachoma.

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We're sorry, but we cannot process a donation of this size online. Please contact us on [email protected] for assistance donating over $10,000

Trichiasis, also known as advanced trachoma, is a cruel condition where the eyelids turn inwards, causing the eyelashes to scrape against the eye. If left untreated, each excruciating blink can eventually lead to irreversible blindness.

15-year-old Gamangassou had always known there was something wrong with his eyes, but over the years, the pain had become unbearable. It was so sore he could barely see in broad daylight, let alone read or play with his friends. Gamangassou struggled in school and could not read the board.

“My eyes are always watery which makes me sometimes not even go to school.”

Unable to escape his agony, Gamangassou would simply sit on his own all day – his sadness was clear to see.

If trachoma is left untreated, it can develop into trichiasis, and lead to irreversible blindness.

Thankfully Gamangassou was found by local partners who referred him to Sightsavers for treatment. When Gamangassou was told we could rid him of his pain with one surgery, he said “yes” without a second thought.

Help eliminate trachoma in Cameroon – and give more children like Gamangassou a future free from pain.

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a boy sits next to a wall. his eyes are watery and sore. — As the years passed, Gamangassou's pain worsened, until his eyes started to water so relentlessly, he gave up wiping them.

Boy with trichiasis with his mother in a car, travelling to hospital. — Gamangassou's mother was worried on the way to hospital.

Boy ready for surgery, standing with surgeon. — Gamangassou with Wane Pascal, his surgeon. It takes less than hour to perform a surgery that will free a child from pain.

Gamangassou in school in Cameroon. — Gamangassou is happy to be able to read and write with ease, and no longer has to live in pain.

I’m Ibrahim, Sightsavers’ project officer in Cameroon. I met Gamangassou and saw his incredible journey to a life free from pain.

Gamangassou remained calm as he went in for surgery, although his mother was a little nervous. But, after a smooth procedure and follow-up the next day, his face was cleaned, and his bandages were removed. I’ll always remember his mother’s smile as she saw his clear eyes for the first time.

Fortunately for Gamangassou, just one week after surgery the difference was clear, and he couldn’t stop smiling.

“My wish all these years was to see and play like other kids... and here I am, just like that!”

Boy smiling after a successful trichiasis surgery.

I’ve worked for Sightsavers for six years and witnessed the progress we’ve made towards ending trachoma. I know that, together, we can make this happen. But first we must be able to treat any children still in pain. It’s vital we can keep reaching children in Cameroon – to help treat severe cases like Gamangassou and Aboubakar’s.

It was devastating knowing Gamangassou had been living like this for most of his young life, before receiving treatment. And sadly, there are still many children like him. Due to limited resources, difficult journeys and the threat of conflict, there’s already an estimated 47,200 people who need advanced trachoma or trichiasis surgery in Cameroon – with children like Gamangassou among them. And with COVID-19 further delaying our work, this number is only going to rise.

Your gift will help us prepare to hit the ground running as soon as our programmes restart, by training more volunteers to deliver trachoma screenings and ensuring our teams have everything they need to take children to hospital for surgery. We can also continue our educational programmes about good hygiene, which is vital in stopping the spread of trachoma.

Your kind support today could help more children who are waiting to be free from the pain of trachoma.

Help more children in Cameroon