Our charity work in Cameroon

We work with the government and partners in Cameroon and countries across Africa to deliver vital charity work and make sure everyone can claim their rights.

Cameroon is located on the Gulf of Guinea, between west and central Africa. It has rich natural resources, and is home to many diverse ethnic groups.

The country’s ministry of health is making progress to improve public health care and achieve universal health coverage by 2035. Yet there are still significant shortages of qualified staff and essential medicines, and it can be hard for people living in rural areas to access health care.

Five neglected tropical diseases are endemic in Cameroon, putting many people at risk of illness and disability. Successful treatment campaigns and social programmes are helping to control these debilitating diseases.

Cameroon’s constitution protects the rights of all citizens, but many people with disabilities still face social exclusion and may have difficulty accessing health care services. In particular, people with disabilities are often excluded from key decision-making roles and are not represented in Cameroonian political life.

2.6 million people in Cameroon are thought to have vision loss

15.9 million people need treatment to protect against disease

10.5% of people in the north-west region have a disability

Sources: IAPB, ESPEN, LSHTM

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What are the challenges in Cameroon, and how can these be addressed?

A scenic landscape in Cameroon showing a lush river with vegetation and trees either side.

Infectious diseases

People in Cameroon are at a high risk of contracting diseases such as trachoma or intestinal worms.

Five tropical diseases that can be prevented with medication are endemic in Cameroon, putting millions of people at risk of illness and disability. Our work on neglected tropical diseases in Cameroon focuses on eliminating trachoma and protecting children from intestinal worms.

How we’re tackling disease in Cameroon

Medication

We work with partners such as GiveWell to ensure people are given medication to protect them against disease.
Our work with GiveWell

Training volunteers

We train local volunteers to distribute medication in their communities and refer people for treatment.
About community volunteers

Research

Our Countdown research programme has collected detailed data so we can track and treat diseases effectively.
About Countdown

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Inclusion and equality

Not everyone in Cameroon can claim their human rights.

People with disabilities in the country often face stigma and discrimination in society, which can prevent them going to school, finding work or voting in elections. Our charity work on disability rights in Cameroon focuses on improving opportunities for everyone.

Our inclusion work in Cameroon

Inclusive education

Sightsavers works with local governments, schools and parents to make schools more accessible so everyone can get an education.
About our education work

Campaigning for change

Our African Disability Protocol campaign called on the Cameroon government to ratify the treaty, which upholds disability rights.
About our ADP campaign

Political participation

We’re ensuring people with disabilities can claim their right to vote and participate in leadership and decision-making roles.
Our award-winning work

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“After taking the deworming treatment, children who were usually absent in school because of the infections can now go to school the whole year.”

Mdelle Makoge wearing a Sightsavers lanyard, standing outside in Cameroon.

Makoge, Sightsavers’ programme officer in Cameroon

How you can help

Our work in Cameroon is helping to protect people from painful diseases, but there’s still more we need to do.

With your support, we want to eliminate infectious diseases such as blinding trachoma and ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate in society. To do this, we need your help.

Charity donations, legacies, corporate partnerships and gifts from charitable foundations are a vital source of funding for our programmes in Cameroon. We also welcome opportunities to work in partnership with governments, institutions and development organisations.

Contact us: If you have any questions about our work in Cameroon, would like details about our programmes or wish to discuss ways you can donate or support us, email [email protected]

Latest stories from Cameroon

Three partners sit at a table with table name badges in front of them.

News / Education /

With Sightsavers’ support, the government of Cameroon has adopted a national policy to deliver quality and equitable inclusive education for people with disabilities.

November 2024

Blogs / Disability and inclusion /

Sightsavers’ Laurène Leclercq shares successes from an award-winning project in Cameroon and Senegal that’s supporting people with disabilities to participate in all aspects of political life.

Laurène Leclercq, March 2023

News / Disability and inclusion /

The prize was awarded for our inclusion project which promotes the rights of people with disabilities to participate in civic and political life in Cameroon and Senegal.

December 2022

A woman with crutches walks into a building.

Stories / Disability and inclusion /

We’re working with partners in Cameroon and Senegal to ensure people with disabilities are able to take part in every stage of the political process.

A schoolboy receives medication from a female teacher.

News / Fighting disease /

Charity evaluator GiveWell has provided a further US$7.8 million to fight intestinal worms and schistosomiasis in Nigeria and Cameroon.

March 2022

Two men and a woman in Cameroon. The men hold green posters saying 'Make it count'.

News / Disability and inclusion /

Cameroon has become the second African country to begin to ratify the African Disability Protocol, which addresses unique issues that affect people with disabilities in African countries.

February 2022

Discover where Sightsavers works in Africa and Asia

Where we work

We protect sight, fight disease and make sure everyone can claim their rights.

Find out how your support can make a huge difference and change lives.

Sightsavers in Cameroon

2.6 million people in Cameroon are thought to have vision loss

15.9 million people need treatment to protect against disease

10.5% of people in the north-west region have a disability

What are the challenges in Cameroon, and how can these be addressed?

Infectious diseases