Meet the people delivering eye care thanks to support from QFFD

Our project in Ethiopia has been tackling blinding trachoma. Trachoma is an infectious and painful eye disease which damages the inside of the eyelids. Through repeated infections, trachoma scars the inside of the eyelids.This causes the eye lashes to turn inwards, scratching the eye, and ultimately leading to permanent blindness if left untreated.

A colossal 55% of the world’s burden of Trachoma can be found in Ethiopia, with 64 million of the population at risk of developing the painful condition and 70% of cases in the country impacting women and girls.

Trachoma is a is highly contagious disease yet is easily preventable and treatable through the World Health organisation’s SAFE strategy:

• Surgery,
• Antibiotics,
• Facial Cleanliness,
• Environmental improvements.

“I have been working with Orbis Trained Integrated Eye Care Worker’s for the past three years. Recently, I was able to identify and bring in 30 patients for treatment. Me and my teams identify the cases of so many people in our respective villages and bring them in for treatment. Not only trachoma patients but also those affected by Cataract and Glaucoma. A few years ago, we could see a lot of blindness in our areas, but it is different now, the difference is truly visible.”

“Refractive exams have made a great deal of difference in the lives of so many students. I have had one student who dropped out of school and had to go back from the third grade to the first grade upon re admission. But after giving him the refractive test, we were able to arrange the provision of the right glasses for him, he Is now back to the third grade and one of my top students.”

“This is not even the only student who went through something like this, as a coordinator of three primary schools, I can tell you countless similar stories.”

This year QCV launched in Zambia. The programme will run for three years. 750 government health workers, volunteer community eye health champions and teachers will be trained to identify, treat or refer children with vision loss for further support, in addition, awareness raising activities will include educational film screenings and radio broadcasts, as well as dedicated focus groups, to help dispel misconceptions parents and communities may have around eye care and surgery and build confidence in the services on offer.

Alongside the focus on training and community engagement, the project aims to provide essential equipment for 40 eye care facilities, 85,000 screenings, and almost 1900 glasses and surgeries.

In preparation for the start of the project, Orbis Zambia organised a coordination and planning meeting with our key partners under the Ministry of Health. The meeting served as a platform to identify and address current gaps in paediatric eye care services, fostering a collaborative approach to optimise the impact of the project. With this programme, Orbis Zambia hopes to provide these communities not only with necessary eye care services but also by creating a long-term structure for guidance and support.

The Ministry of Health expressed gratitude towards the work that Orbis has been providing in the eye health care fraternity within the communities of Zambia. By ensuring that children have access to high-quality eye care services, Qatar Creating Vision symbolises a dedication to creating a lasting difference in children's lives. The initiative aims to have a long-lasting and beneficial effect on eye health in the places it will serve, thanks to the application of Orbis Zambia's experience, the support of the Qatar Fund for Development, and the Ministry of Health's local comprehension.