Focus magazine: Spring 2024 | Sightsavers

The cover of Sightsavers' Focus magazine.

Welcome to Focus magazine!

I’m really thrilled to bring you this issue of Focus – your first for 2024 – because it gives me the chance to thank you for the huge difference you make to so many people’s lives.

As I’m sure you remember, last year was the 20th anniversary of Sightsavers Ireland, and it was a great chance to reflect on some of the amazing things that supporters like you have helped to achieve.

With your help, we’ve carried out more than 8.7 million cataract operations to restore people’s sight, supported more than 1.7 billion treatments for neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma, carried out more than 216 million eye examinations, dispensed more than 6.1 million pairs of glasses, and helped more than 190,000 children with visual impairments and other disabilities to go to school.

We’ve also trained more than 8,800 health workers to gain professional qualifications, provided more than 1.13 million eye health training sessions for eye health and education professionals, and more than 3.3 million training sessions for local volunteers. The figures are phenomenal, and are behind every one of them is a person whose life you’ve transformed.

My warmest wishes,

Ciara Smullen
CEO, Sightsavers Ireland

Read the print version of the magazine here

Download Focus (pdf)

Fighting trachoma in Kenya

Lanoi stands outside and smiles with her hands on top of her head. She looks off to the right.

Meet Lanoi, who is all smiles after receiving medication to treat her trachoma infection. Thanks to the tireless work of eye specialists and community volunteers, Kenya could become one of the next countries to eliminate trachoma.

Read the story

Your opinion matters

Join Sightsavers’ Insights community and make your voice count. Share your thoughts about Sightsavers’ websites through surveys, interviews and more. Get involved

School student Zahra in the corridor at school. She's smiling and wearing a white headscarf and bright blue shirt.

Meet Zahra in Pakistan

“My glasses have been a very positive addition to my life.” Zahra is one of the many children now thriving thanks to our programme to screen school students for eye conditions and health problems.
Read her story and learn about the programme

Inspirational eye health advocates

In Malawi, Wilson was treated for cataracts and shared his experiences with the local community. This helped to dispel fears about eye health and encouraged others to visit Sightsavers’ eye screening camps.
Learn about Wilson and his friends

Activism in action

The Netflix film ‘Can You See Us?’ is about Sightsavers’ campaign ambassador John Chiti and aims to change how people think about albinism.

Based on John’s life, the film raises awareness of the challenges people with albinism experience across Africa, such as social stigma and alienation.

Watch the trailer or learn more about the film.

Dr Jalikatu smiles while wearing her surgical coat.

Blazing a trail

“As a woman, you’re always trying to prove you belong.” Meet Dr Jalikatu Mustapha who is currently the only female ophthalmologist in Sierra Leone.
Read Dr Jalikatu’s story

Luyando smiles as a health worker removes a bandage from her eyes. She's wearing a blue hospital gown.

Remember a loved one

Every gift we receive is precious, and gifts left in memory of a loved one are especially touching. Celebrate your loved one’s life whilst giving the gift of sight.
Learn about gifts in memory

A group of runners participating in the Dublin marathon

Run for Sightsavers

Ireland’s biggest marathon is fast approaching. This October, run the Dublin Marathon for Sightsavers to help tackle avoidable blindness and fight for disability rights.
About Dublin Marathon