Even though most Canadians have never heard of trachoma, it is the world's leading cause of preventable blindness. This contagious infection is common in 48 countries and has blinded six million people.

The Cause
Caused by bacteria, trachoma spreads rapidly in communities where people don't have enough water to wash their hands and faces regularly. Washing with as little as one litre of clean water each day can prevent the disease. But those living in drought-prone Africa consider even one litre too precious when they struggle to find enough water to drink.

"It's easy to tell people, 'You need to wash yourselves and your children regularly to prevent trachoma,'" says Aboubakar Maman, a World Vision program manager based in Niger, West Africa. "But how can they do this when they only have one pail of water a day for the whole family? They are forced to choose between drinking and washing."

No Access to Water
Water is a chronic problem throughout landlocked Niger. Almost half of the country's 12 million people don't have sufficient access to water. Adamou, 12, lives in the region of Zinder, Niger. In his community, 700 villagers share one well that often runs dry between rainy seasons. He went blind three years ago as a result of trachoma.

"I remember what it was like before I lost my sight," he says, "My eyes were so itchy and sore that I thought my eyelids would fall off. When I woke up in the morning, I could see. But by noon everything became dark. Then gradually after a few months, I couldn't see at all. It even hurt to open my eyes."

World Vision is There
Trachoma is both preventable and treatable. Antibiotics can clear the infection in the early stages and surgery corrects advanced cases. Thankfully, Adamou, a sponsored child, was among 50 children in Zinder who had eye surgery in 2003. His sight was almost fully recovered, and he saw his baby sister, Zeinabou, for the first time.

World Vision is also working to prevent more children from contracting trachoma:

• Through child sponsorship, World Vision has provided communities in Niger with clean water for the past 10 years. In a region called Maradi, Canadians sponsor more than 3,500 children. Here, eight wells have been dug thanks to child sponsorship funds.
• In 2004, World Vision stepped up its efforts to help eradicate trachoma by launching a five-year project called the West Africa Water Initiative. Working in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and 12 other agencies, World Vision will drill 175 borehole wells in Niger, providing potable water to an estimated 70,000 people.

Adamou is excited about the borehole that World Vision installed in his village. "I don't want any of my friends to get trachoma. I'm praying that this new well will stop this eye sickness in our village forever."

Click here to donate to a World Vision water project.