Organisation: Light for the World
Location: Austria
Photographer: Adem Mengistu / Blen Hagazi / Light for the World

Tefera Hiluf’s dedication and expertise has created remarkable progress in the work towards eliminating trachoma in Ethiopia. Together with his team and partners he has worked not only to administer medication, but to spread awareness and mobilise communities from the grassroots.

Tefera Hiluf is a Neglected Tropical Diseases and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) expert at the Mekoni District Health Office in Tigray, Ethiopia. He works to eliminate trachoma — a preventable cause of blindness still affecting his community. His typical day begins early, often filled with travel to rural areas, community mobilisation, and overseeing house-to-house awareness raising and medicine distribution. “Although many think diseases like trachoma are a thing of the past, in reality, they are still affecting many people, particularly in remote areas,” Tefera says. “Helping to eliminate trachoma is not just about preventing a disease — it’s about preserving dignity, independence and opportunity”. Thanks to support from Light for the World, Tefera’s team has made remarkable progress: trachoma prevalence in the region has dropped from 40% to just 5%. The partnership has brought not only medicine but also education and training that ripples across the community. Tefera calls for support in the fight to eliminate trachoma in Ethiopia: “Donations are essential because they fund medication, awareness campaigns, training and WASH improvements, all of which are critical in tackling this disease effectively,” he says.