In its commitment to long term change, Sightsavers created the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) to collect data on the spread of trachoma using mobil devices. In 2017, the UK-based non-profit celebrated its impressive one billion treatment for neglected tropical diseases. In addition to their boots-on-the-ground approach to treating blindness, Sightsavers’ policy and advocacy team works to influence international leaders to support people with disabilities. Sightsavers believes that all people deserve access to quality health care. Sightsavers is working to make to help the 15% of people worldwide living with disability are empowered to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

In 1950, Sir John Wilson founded the British Empire Society for the Blind after being blinded himself as child. This organization would ultimately become Sightsavers. Sir John was a firsthand witness to the the devastating impact of low-quality living around the world as he traveled in the thirties and he was motivated to do something about the vulnerable populations of the blind worldwide. With help, the organization believes that the blind can do anything, and organized the first hike up Mount Kilimanjaro with blind persons. But the need to educate people and help the blind extended beyond that. The organization’s first mission was to improve the living conditions for the blind all around the world, and that would mean fighting for those without the resources to do so. Today, Sightsavers is committed to fostering lasting in public health, and understanding that many devastating diseases worldwide, including blindness, are completely preventable.

Sightsavers currently works in over 30 countries around the world, including Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Communities in these regions are often poverty stricken with a lack of basic medical access in their regions. This lack of care often translates itself into infectious diseases, and many of these preventable infectious diseases ultimately translate into blindness, like trachoma and river blindness. Many of these programs are focused on access to clean water and improved sanitation, as these can lead to river blindness and the other grand-scale illnesses that cause blindness in third-world settings.

The Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) began in December 2012 and ended in January of 2016. This project enabled governments to more accurately track where trachoma was making its biggest impact and figure out a solution to problems locally. In 2017, the UK-based non-profit celebrated its impressive one billion treatment for neglected tropical diseases Sightsavers believes that all people deserve access to quality health care, and this makes the organization voracious disability rights activists. In 2013, they started the “Put us In the Picture” movement, which advocated for further inclusion of those with disabilities within global development. In addition, Sightsavers is committed to workplace inclusion worldwide and in their own offices. Sightsavers’ goal of helping 15% of people worldwide living with disability to lead independent and fulfilling lives is only possible through their continued commitment to stopping infectious diseases, working for inclusion, and with support from the outside.