Our Work

Peter Atanga Agarigo, Rehabilitation worker Peter with Cletus, one of his clients © Suzanne Porter/Sightsavers

Peter Atanga Agarigo, Rehabilitation worker Peter with Cletus, one of his clients © Suzanne Porter/Sightsavers

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Helping the community

Peter Atanga Agarigo is a 39-year-old rehabilitation worker from Bongo, in Ghana.

I first heard about Sightsavers on the radio and the newspapers about three years ago. When a team came to my local community and made announcements for volunteers, I decided to join.

I had noticed that people who are blind weren't able to move around or live independently. I wanted to help people in my community live fuller lives.

In my training I was taught how to register clients, and refer them to the hospital or clinic for screening when necessary. I also received mobility and orientation skills training, to help people learn to move around feely on their own.

On a typical day, I will go and see a client in his or her home. I train or retrain them on how to move around with a white cane. I also show clients the routes to their friends' homes, the market and other places they may want to go to.

I have about 40 clients in total, and cover five areas in the district: Bongo, Borogo, Gorogo, Akunduro and Zaasi, all within a two mile radius of each other.

One of my clients is 65-year-old Cletus Ayambila Ayambire, who lost his sight two years ago. Since he got his white cane he has been able to make his way around his home more easily.

A dressmaker by trade, Cletus continues to sell smocks, hats and other clothes at the market, although he is now unable to travel and hires people to help with some of the intricate designs on some of his costumes.

I also work with 52-year-old Abugre Abaa, who has been blind for forty years. When she was younger she was strong and able to do everything by and for herself. It is only in later years, as she has gotten older that Abugre has needed help, and that is why she joined the rehabilitation programme.

She continues to rear animals for a living, and is still able to join in with her friends because of her mobility training and the daily living skills she has learnt.

I'm very happy about working with Sightsavers as it helps a lot: rehabilitation makes people happy and allows them to participate in their community.