Sightsavers in Guinea-Bissau

Located in West Africa on the Atlantic coast, Guinea-Bissau is a small country with a sparsely populated archipelago called the Bijagos Islands.

The health care system in Guinea-Bissau is underfunded and lacks essential resources, including qualified medical staff. Health services are concentrated in the capital, Bissau, leaving many people in rural areas without medical care. Poor access to safe drinking water, limited electricity and ongoing political instability have hampered progress towards universal health coverage.

Five neglected tropical diseases are prevalent in Guinea-Bissau. Sightsavers is working with the country’s ministry of health to control the spread of these diseases by distributing medication and promoting cleanliness, as well as organising health screenings in remote villages.

Protecting people from disease enables communities to return to fertile agricultural land close to rivers, which they may have left because of the risk of infection. This ensures they can earn an income from farming. Our work also helps to avoid children missing school because of severe medical conditions or to care for sick relatives, enabling them to continue their education.

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