Our charity work in Liberia

We work with the government and local organisations in Liberia and countries across Africa to deliver vital charity work and make sure everyone has the chance to thrive.

Located on the coast of West Africa, Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic.

It is one of the world’s poorest countries, with more than half the population living in poverty. Civil war and political instability have affected the country’s infrastructure and its ability to provide high-quality public services.

In recent years, the government of Liberia has made significant progress to improve health care. In 2022, a new National Eye Health Policy was launched to ensure eye health is a priority. Yet many people struggle to access basic services because of a lack of essential resources, skilled staff and adequate funding.

Four neglected tropical diseases are present in the country. In 2017, Liberia became one of the first countries in Africa to implement a national strategy to help manage these diseases.

9.5% of people in Liberia are thought to be blind

There are only five ophthalmologists in the entire country

River blindness is endemic in all 15 Liberian counties

Sources: International Health volume 14, volume 35

What are the challenges in Liberia, and how can these be addressed?

Eye care

Not everyone in Liberia can access quality eye care.

The country is rebuilding its health care system after decades of instability, meaning eye care services are still limited. Our charity work in Liberia is helping to ensure that everyone can access quality eye care across the country.

Our eye care work in Liberia

Free eye screening

We help to check people for eye conditions that can cause visual impairment and sight loss, and refer them for treatment.
Eye conditions we treat

Eye care in schools

We train teachers so they can screen students for eye problems. If needed, students can be given glasses or further treatment.
About the school screening project

Research

We collect and monitor detailed data about blindness and sight loss, to help us learn which communities we need to reach.
About our research team

Infectious diseases

People in Liberia are at high risk of infectious diseases.

Neglected tropical diseases that can cause blindness and disability are prevalent in the country. Sightsavers’ work here focuses on protecting people from river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

How we’re tackling disease in Liberia

Distributing medication

Sightsavers gives out medicine in urban and rural areas of Liberia to treat and protect communities from infectious diseases.
About our treatment campaigns

Training volunteers

We train local volunteers to give out medication in the community, check people for eye disease and refer them for treatment.
Who are community volunteers?

Working with partners

We work with the Liberian government and partners to pool our expertise and reach as many people as possible.
About partnering with Sightsavers

“I couldn’t see the blackboard clearly, but now I can. In future, I want to become an engineer.”

Arthur in the classroom, smiling while wearing his new glasses.

Arthur, from Bong County, had his eyes tested at school and was given glasses to correct his vision. Read his story

How you can help

Our charity work in Liberia is helping to improve the national health care system, but there’s still more we need to do.

With your support, we want to continue providing quality eye care services and protect people from disease, so everyone can learn, earn and thrive. 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 Liberia. 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 Liberia, would like more information about our programmes or wish to discuss ways you can donate or support us, email [email protected]

Latest stories from west Africa

Vision technician Ruth Zeo points to an eye chart during an eye screening

Blogs / Eye health /

Liberia's National Eye Health Policy will ensure eye health is a priority and help strengthen the wider health system by developing a sustainable, inclusive eye care service.

Nazaradden Ibrahim, September 2023

Dr Jalikatu uses a magnifier to look at a girl's eyes.

News / Eye health /

Dr Jalikatu Mustapha trained with Sightsavers between 2012 and 2016, becoming the only female ophthalmologist in the country.

August 2023

Upendo talks to a patient during an eye test.

News / Eye health /

Sightsavers has partnered with the Fred Hollows Foundation and PlenOptika to pilot a new vision care strategy that aims to revolutionise eye care worldwide.

June 2023

Six schoolchildren sit on the floor around a board game that they're playing.

Stories / Fighting disease /

Schools in Kenya, Ethiopia and Guinea are using educational board games to teach children about the importance of good hygiene to help eliminate trachoma.

Two women stand in a flooded area outside a house, where they are checking a mosquito trap.

Stories / Fighting disease /

To tackle disease, we need to know who is affected. In Liberia, Sightsavers has studied mosquitoes and tested children to see how urban migration affects the spread of lymphatic filariasis.

Saio stands outside wearing her school uniform and backpack.

Stories / Disability and inclusion /

Saio has a physical disability that affects her feet and makes walking difficult, meaning she was missing out on a lot of her education. A Sightsavers-supported inclusive education project has provided transport to take her to school and training for her teachers, which has made a huge difference.

Discover where Sightsavers works in Africa and Asia

Where we work

We protect sight, fight disease and make sure everyone can claim their rights.

Find out how your support can make a huge difference and change lives.

Sightsavers in Liberia

9.5% of people in Liberia are thought to be blind

There are only five ophthalmologists in the entire country

River blindness is endemic in all 15 Liberian counties

What are the challenges in Liberia, and how can these be addressed?

Eye care