* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
This World Water Day, March 22, Sightsavers is highlighting the importance of clean water. Clean water and good sanitation is integral to our work preventing blindness and restoring sight in developing countries.
(Charlie Bibby/Financial Times/Sightsavers)
Clean water, along with improved sanitation, is a significant piece of the puzzle in eliminating the group of debilitating diseases called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This is Glades from Uganda and she is suffering from trichaisis, caused by the NTD trachoma, a bacterial infection. Trichiasis happens when repeated trachoma infections cause the eyelid to turn inwards and scratch the cornea, eventually leading to blindness if left untreated.
(Zul Mukhinda/Sightsavers)
Trachoma is spread from person to person through close contact and also through flies which are rife in communities where poor sanitation habits exist. Sightsavers uses the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy to combat trachoma. SAFE includes the four pillars: Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial washing and Environmental change. Clean water is essential to facial washing, as shown here by Gracie in Usoranga, Tanzania.
(Robert Perry/Scotland on Sunday/Sightsavers)
Improved sanitation is very important for environmental change, which is essential to reducing the number of flies that people come into contact with, therefore reducing the risk of contracting trachoma. Using covered latrines is one way of helping to ensure that sewage and clean water are kept separate. Mussokoro from Mali went blind 30 years ago, and was given mobility training through a Sightsavers partner. This covered latrine is for her private use – something she is very thankful for.
(Sando Moore/Sightsavers)
Transmission of a significant number of NTDs also occurs through water; such as the blinding infection river blindness (also called onchocerciasis) which is caused by larvae which are transmitted into the body by bite of the black simulium fly. This is Hallelujah, 9, washing clothes with water from the river near her home. The river is known to be infested with the flies that cause river blindness.
(Kate Holt/Sightsavers)
This is Hallelujah’s cousin, Blessing, fetching water for drinking, cooking, and washing from the same infested river for use in their home. Luckily for these girls, their chances of contracting river blindness have been significantly reduced by a Sightsavers drug distribution programme.
(Kate Holt/Sightsavers)
This is Mamu from Guinea, a community distributor who helps to prevent river blindness by distributing the drug Mectizan® to his fellow villagers. He uses a stick marked with different lengths to specify how many pills a person should take depending on their height.
(Laura Crowe/Sightsavers)
One of Sightsavers’ goals is to achieve long-term elimination of NTDs. For this to happen, health and water and sanitation sectors must working together with communities in order to bring about lasting change and freedom from these diseases.
(Kate Holt/Sightsavers)
