Protect a community

€21

River blindness is a horrible disease spread by tiny black flies that breed in fast-flowing rivers.

In Africa today, millions of families are at risk from this disease as they must live by rivers that give them the water vital for crop growing and cattle herding.

The bite of this fly passes on parasitic worms that, without treatment, invade the eyes and cause blindness. Sightsavers is working to protect communities at risk by distributing the drug Mectizan®.

This drug halts the progress of the disease and enables people to stay by the fertile rivers they rely on for their survival.

This gift can help distribute enough Mectizan® to help protect a whole community for a year.

Pictured is Mectizan® distributor Kekema Martin, from Cameroon, measuring Olumon Shantal for his Mectizan® dose.

Seven-year-old Helen and her 10-year-old brother Jacob, from Nigeria, realise the importance of taking Mectizan®.

Both have taken their annual dose of Mectizan® to prevent them from contracting river blindness.

Jacob has been taking Mectizan® treatment for four years. He is aware that people can become blind due to river blindness and realises the importance of Mectizan®.

"I take Mectizan® to protect my eyesight," said Jacob