Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over one billion of the world’s poorest people. Sightsavers, with additional funding from the UK government, is helping to eliminate two significant NTDs: onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis. Both are debilitating diseases caused by parasite infections.
The groundbreaking Global Trachoma Mapping Project showed that public health can benefit from technology and standardisation to cut costs and respond to local needs. It’s a data collection model that should be replicated.
The 60th Commission on the Status of Women is about to kick off at the United Nations. Sightsavers is marking this annual event with a series of blogs to highlight the importance of looking at development through a gender lens and ensure that disability (which will affect all of us at some point in our lives) is not overlooked.
Sightsavers is known for its work on NTD elimination and eye health. These are significant portfolios, not only in financial resources but also in terms of their impact on the lives of men and women, boys and girls in some of the poorest places in the world.