Help Sightsavers charity to fight the misery of trachoma

I only make a monthly payment to two charities one of which, WaterAid I wrote about last week and this week I hope I can be forgiven for plugging my other favourite, Sightsavers.

It is coming round to the time of year when some folk might feel a wee bit more charitable, so I thought that I would take the opportunity to tug at the heartstrings.

Sightsavers is an international charity that pledges to help prevent avoidable blindness, support people with visual impairments and promote equal opportunities for those affected by disability.

It was founded in 1950 and has its headquarters here in the UK. It was after watching one of its TV promotions that featured the cause and effect of trachoma that prompted me to donate.

It works in low- and middle-income countries, partnering governments, local health providers, communities and international agencies. It covers early detection and treatment, school eye health programmes, provision of spectacles, rehabilitation and inclusive education initiatives so that children with visual impairment issues can participate fully in learning.

Trachoma is an infectious eye disease that begins as a bacterial infection which if caught early can be successfully treated but repeated infections will lead to advanced trachoma which can cause intense pain and blindness.

Trichiasis is an eye condition caused by repeated trachoma infections which makes the eyelid tight and pulls the lashes inwards, causing them to angle towards the eye rather than away from it. The eyelashes then scrape against the eyeball which eventually causes permanent damage, leading to blindness. It also makes the simple act of blinking absolute torture.

Having seen the pain and misery suffered by children in particular I resolved to make a modest contribution to the charity. There are many good causes out there, Sightsavers is worthy of our consideration.