Mags GarganIn the remote village of N’Korobougou, in the western region of Koulikoro, 68-year-old Kany Doumbia was diagnosed with trichiasis, the advanced stage of trachoma, where the infection has become so bad that the eyelashes have turned inwards, painfully scratching the eyeball with every blink. After 20 years of pain, surgery has returned her sight. Every 15 minutes, somebody goes blind from trachoma. But just €10 is enough to treat eight people and stop them losing their sight unnecessarily. Sightsavers is part of a coalition of organisations that has pledged to eliminate trachoma by the year 2020. It is asking people to consider the gift of sight and help protect more people and offer them a future free from trachoma. Call Sightsavers on 1850 20 70 20 or visit www.sightsavers.ie
