COVID-19: a message from global CEO Caroline Harper

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, Sightsavers would like to reassure supporters that we are monitoring the situation closely and are doing everything we can to protect our staff and the communities in all the countries where we work.

The world continues to face an unprecedented situation that is changing rapidly. Our thoughts are currently with communities across Asia, where our teams are working hard to make sure any ongoing work is conducted safely. We are following national and international guidance and will be flexible in the rapidly changing circumstances.

The majority of our staff across all countries continue to work from home, and we will follow the advice in various countries as things evolve. We have strong infrastructure and systems in place, all of which have been tested to ensure we can keep things running during this difficult time.

Regarding our programmes and work in the field, we continue to follow the latest national government and WHO guidelines. Some programmes are restarting where it is safe to do so, following stringent guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus. We continue to take a project-by-project view of the impact of COVID-19 and what can be done to support the response.

At Sightsavers, we would not be able to continue our work without our loyal supporters. We realise at this time there are many pressing concerns in everyone’s lives, and we want to reassure you that we value your ongoing support and are doing everything we can to ensure the people who need your support receive it. We are touched by all the messages we have received and we hope you will continue to support us through this uncertain period. As countries recover, we aim to be well-placed to accelerate our efforts and tackle pent-up demand.

We wish you all good health, and hope that we can all resume our normal lives as soon as possible.

Caroline Harper
Caroline is Sightsavers’ global CEO, a role she has held since 2005. In 2015 she received a CBE for services to people with visual impairments. More about Caroline