Our Work

Agustin and Johnson from Cameroon. Suzanne Porter © Sightsavers

Agustin and Johnson from Cameroon. Suzanne Porter © Sightsavers

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Together we can eliminate river blindness

My name is Augustin Ayuk and I'm a community volunteer,working on behalf of Sightsavers to help prevent river blindness in the Mamfe District in Cameroon. Together with my friend Johnson, we are responsible for ensuring that every man, woman and child gets the medication they need to protect them against river blindness.

This terrible disease is spread by black flies which breed in fast-flowing rivers close to our village. When the flies bite you, they transmit parasitic worms, which spread inside your body causing years of suffering and eventually - blindness. But the good news is we no longer have to live in fear of river blindness. Thanks to a Sightsavers funded community programme, we now have the medication we need to prevent it. And that's where we come in. Over the last ten years, we have been responsible for making sure that everyone in our community gets an annual dose of the drug Mectizan® (donated free by Merck & Co) which prevents river blindness.



Salif acts as a guide for his grandfather. © Sightsavers

When the programme first started, many people were afraid to take the tablets. They had heard rumours that it would make them sick and associated it with witchcraft. But once they saw other people taking the drug and not becoming ill, they were happy to take it. Now they love the programme.

To be effective, Mectizan® must be taken regularly for over 20 years, so we have to keep records of everyone treated. Before the drugs are given out, we have to measure everyone to determine how many tablets they need. Our day begins at 5am and we work until no more people come. Then we go door to door to make sure we haven't missed anybody.

I'm proud to say over 70% of the people in my village are now protected against river blindness. No longer do people have to flee their homes in fear of black flies. And no longer do our children face the prospect of missing out on their education to look after relatives who have become blind.

I look forward to a future free from river blindness. With the continued support of Sightsavers we hope to eliminate this disease forever. It costs just 6 cent to ensure one person gets the annual protection they need and as little as €22 can protect an entire community for a year.

Together we can beat this disease and look forward to a future free from river blindness.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about my life.