At Sightsavers, we start with sight, but we don’t stop there.
For almost 75 years, we’ve been working to ensure people in Africa and Asia can claim their human rights, so everyone has the chance to learn, earn and thrive. We do this by protecting sight, eliminating diseases and fighting for an equal world.
During 2024 we treated millions of people for eye conditions, supported countries to tackle debilitating diseases and campaigned for disability rights from New York to Zimbabwe. Our vital work doesn’t just change people’s lives, it’s helping to transform global health and alleviate poverty for future generations.
In the face of many continuing challenges such as conflict, political upheaval and economic instability, we’re so proud of our amazing accomplishments and grateful to all our supporters, staff and partners who’ve made them possible. Read on to see what we’ve achieved together in 2024.
Our highlights from 2024
Pakistan became the 19th country worldwide to eliminate trachoma
In October 2024, the World Health Organization confirmed that Pakistan had eliminated trachoma. Sightsavers began working with the government of Pakistan and other partners to banish the disease in 2001. Sightsavers country director Munazza Gillani said: “It’s an incredibly proud moment. We want to congratulate everyone involved in such huge, concerted efforts to make sure that millions of people are no longer at risk of losing their sight to trachoma.”
How people worked together to beat trachoma
Our Equal World campaign helped enact a landmark disability rights treaty
After years of campaigning, more than 80 million people with disabilities in African countries will have their rights protected by the African Disability Protocol. The legislation is the first Pan-African human rights pact that specifically addresses forms of discrimination affecting people with disabilities. We’re now calling on countries to take the next step and update their national disability laws in line with the treaty.
Read about the African Disability Protocol
Sightsavers joined a global initiative to improve access to spectacles
We began working with the World Health Organization (WHO), national governments and other partners to improve eye care. The WHO initiative, called SPECS 2030, will help tackle refractive error – the world’s biggest cause of visual impairment. Sightsavers’ deputy technical director of eye health and uncorrected refractive error, Sumrana Yasmin, said: “We know the impact a simple pair of spectacles can have. With SPECS 2030, the future for how we achieve universal eye health coverage is charged with potential.”
Learn about the SPECS 2030 initiative
We celebrated the 12 billionth treatment for lymphatic filariasis
Our staff in Zanzibar watched a woman called Mzowele receive the milestone treatment for the disease. Millions of people are at risk from lymphatic filariasis, which is a painful and debilitating condition that can cause abnormal swelling in body parts, known as lymphoedema. Along with trachoma, it’s one of the neglected tropical diseases that affects the most people globally. Our vital work is helping to distribute medication to protect people from the disease and ensure efforts to eliminate it stay on track.
How we’re tackling lymphatic filariasis
Our film ‘Equal World?’ premiered in New York City
In September, we attended the Summit of the Future at the United Nations in New York to call on world leaders to include young people with disabilities in global decision-making. During the summit, we screened our documentary ‘Equal World?’ in which young people with disabilities talk about their lives and what’s needed to achieve an inclusive society. After the film, our Equal World youth campaign champions led a panel discussion with high-level guests and donors to discuss how to make change happen.
Watch ‘Equal World?’ and read about the panel event
We received millions in extra funding to beat trachoma in Africa
Our Accelerate programme was awarded US$36.5 million to help speed up the elimination of trachoma in Africa. The extra funding from various international donors means we can extend the programme until 2027 and expand it to three more countries. Accelerate has already delivered more than 53 million treatments to protect people from trachoma and supported Benin to eliminate the disease in 2023. We aim to help 17 more countries to reach the milestone.
Our research partnership with a prestigious journal was extended
Sightsavers and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene agreed to produce two more collections of research papers in International Health. We began publishing our research in the journal in 2021 to share knowledge with the international research community. Sightsavers’ director of NTDs Simon Bush said: “Research is a key part of our work at Sightsavers. I’m delighted that we can continue to grow our partnership with RSTMH, which has already helped to advance global knowledge around eye health and NTDs.”
Our highlights from 2024
Pakistan became the 19th country worldwide to eliminate trachoma
In October 2024, the World Health Organization confirmed that Pakistan had eliminated trachoma. Sightsavers began working with the government of Pakistan and other partners to banish the disease in 2001. Sightsavers country director Munazza Gillani said: “It’s an incredibly proud moment. We want to congratulate everyone involved in such huge, concerted efforts to make sure that millions of people are no longer at risk of losing their sight to trachoma.”
Read about Pakistan’s achievement
Our Equal World campaign helped enact a landmark disability rights treaty
After years of campaigning, more than 80 million people with disabilities in African countries will have their rights protected by the African Disability Protocol (ADP). The legislation is the first Pan-African human rights pact that specifically addresses forms of discrimination affecting people with disabilities. We’re now calling on countries to take the next step and update their national disability laws in line with the treaty.
Sightsavers joined a global initiative to improve access to spectacles
We began working with the World Health Organization (WHO), national governments and other partners to improve eye care. The WHO initiative, called SPECS 2030, will help tackle refractive error – the world’s biggest cause of visual impairment. Sightsavers’ deputy technical director of eye health and uncorrected refractive error, Sumrana Yasmin, said: “We know the impact a simple pair of spectacles can have. With SPECS 2030, the future for how we achieve universal eye health coverage is charged with potential.”
Learn about the SPECS 2030 initiative
We celebrated the 12 billionth treatment for lymphatic filariasis
Our staff in Zanzibar watched a woman called Mzowele receive the milestone treatment for the disease. Millions of people are at risk from lymphatic filariasis, which is a painful and debilitating condition that can cause abnormal swelling in body parts, known as lymphoedema. Along with trachoma, it’s one of the neglected tropical diseases that affects the most people globally. Our vital work is helping to distribute medication to protect people from the disease and ensure efforts to eliminate it stay on track.
Read about the milestone treatment
Our ‘Equal World?’ film premiered in New York
In September, we attended the Summit of the Future at the United Nations in New York to call on world leaders to include young people with disabilities in global decision-making. During the summit, we screened our documentary ‘Equal World?’ in which young people with disabilities talk about their lives and what’s needed to achieve an inclusive society. After the film, our Equal World youth campaign champions led a panel discussion with high-level guests and donors to discuss how to make change happen.
We received millions in extra funding to beat trachoma in Africa
Our Accelerate programme was awarded US$36.5 million to help speed up the elimination of trachoma in Africa. The extra funding from various international donors means we can extend the programme until 2027 and expand it to three more countries. Accelerate has already delivered more than 53 million treatments to protect people from trachoma and supported Benin to eliminate the disease in 2023. We aim to support 17 more countries to reach the milestone.
Read the Accelerate news story
Our research partnership with a prestigious journal was extended
Sightsavers and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene agreed to produce two more collections of research papers in International Health. We began publishing our research in the journal in 2021 to share knowledge with the international research community. Sightsavers’ director of NTDs Simon Bush said: “Research is a key part of our work at Sightsavers. I’m delighted that we can continue to grow our partnership with RSTMH, which has already helped to advance global knowledge around eye health and NTDs.”
Our impact around
the world
Sightsavers works in more than 30 countries in Africa and Asia, where we partner with local, regional, national and international organisations and governments.
Nigeria
Our inclusive family planning programme supported women and girls with disabilities to access sexual and reproductive health services. We ran the project with BBC Media Action through the Sightsavers-led Inclusive Futures initiative.
Read about the project on Inclusive Futures
Kenya
We began testing an app that will help improve eye health in Kenya. The technology can track a patient’s journey from screening to treatment, and help to identify where people with visual impairments are missing out on essential care.
How innovative technology is improving eye health
India
Sightsavers India won a Zero Project award for its inclusive education work, which provides accessible IT devices and learning materials for students with visual impairments. The programme currently runs in eight states across the country.
Read about the 2024 Zero Project award
Burkina Faso
Thanks to the Arise II programme, people living with lymphatic filariasis were able to return to their normal lives after receiving treatment. Peer educators also worked with communities to tackle stigma around the condition.
Hear from Sabane, whose health has significantly improved
Zimbabwe
Our Equal Zimbabwe campaign began calling for policymakers to update the country’s constitution and disability laws to ensure national legislation protects people’s rights and reflects global policy.
Voices from our work
I’m a living testimony of cataract surgery
Before, I would go and find work, and feed myself. But with cataracts, I couldn’t do any of that. I didn’t like dancing before, but that day after my operation, I danced. I was so happy inside my heart. I’m now able to do everything on my own.Angeshita, programme participant in Malawi
I called on leaders to include young people with disabilities
I attended the Summit of the Future at the United Nations and took a message with me: involve young people with disabilities at all levels. Not just for empowerment, but to give them platforms to be in these spaces and at the tables where critical decisions are made.Basiru, Equal World youth champion from Sierra Leone
My research will enable us to provide better care for women
We believe that findings from our recent project in Nigeria could help tackle female genital schistosomiasis, which is a devastating disease estimated to affect millions of women and girls across Africa.Omosefe Osinoiki, Sightsavers research associate
I chose to specialise in eye care to help my community
There was a day when I came to Nsanje District Hospital and found there was only one medical practitioner. That’s when I thought I have to do clinical medicine, so that people should not have to queue.Alinafe Zaina, ophthalmic clinical officer from Malawi
I learned first-hand from volunteers and staff
I visited north-central Nigeria to see how we’re tackling neglected tropical diseases. There’s a transformative power in seeing our work in action and its impact, rather than just hearing about it in meetings and reports.Khadijah Bello, Sightsavers communications manager in Nigeria
I campaigned for disability rights with Equal Bangladesh
As captain of the Bangladesh wheelchair cricket team, I’ve found that cricket has had a significant impact on people’s attitudes towards us. Life is not easy for people with disabilities.Mohammad, campaigner and captain of the Bangladesh Wheelchair Cricket Team
Thank you to all our supporters
We’re truly grateful to our donors, partners, staff, programme participants and everyone else who makes our life-changing work possible. Watch our video to see some of the amazing things you’re helping us to achieve.
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