A Vision of Hope: Celebrating the Qatar Creating Vision Initiative in Zambia

This partnership reflects the long-standing dedication of the State of Qatar to promote sustainable development and drive meaningful change, not only within its own borders but also across the globe, particularly the most vulnerable communities.

In the heart of Zambia's Copperbelt Province, over half the population lives in rural areas where access to healthcare is a challenge. The Qatar Creating Vision initiative focuses on tackling childhood vision loss—an urgent issue in a region where 40% of the 2.5 million residents are under the age of 15.

With childhood vision loss, timely support is critical. Left untreated, conditions can lead to lifelong consequences, for health, education and earning potential. Education is a key pathway out of poverty for children in the Copperbelt. Poor vision severely hampers learning, leaving children unable to thrive in school. The project helps restore sight, giving these children a chance to succeed academically and break the cycle of poverty.

In addition, limited infrastructure, including roads and long distances between communities, limits access to healthcare facilities.

Bikes:

In rural Copperbelt, reaching remote villages is no easy task. Roads are often impassable for vehicles, and many Community Eye Health Champions previously walked miles to deliver care. Enter the humble yet transformative bicycle.

Thanks to funding From Qatar Fund for Development, 250 bicycles have been distributed to Community Eye Health Champions, enabling them to navigate the challenging terrain. These champions, trained in primary eye care, now visit hard-to-reach areas to provide screenings, raise awareness, and refer patients for further care.

“Previously, our efforts to support patients with eye conditions were constrained by transportation challenges. With the bicycles provided, we can now extend our reach to remote villages, ensuring more individuals access essential eye care services,” said Nchimunya Kalangwa, a Community Eye Health Champion.

This simple but effective solution is creating ripples of change. In the Mpongwe District alone, where over 10,000 residents live in scattered rural communities, the champions are delivering vital eye care services and hope.

Surgical outreach:

Reaching rural communities in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province requires innovative solutions, and surgical outreach camps are transforming access to eye care for children. Led by Kitwe Teaching Eye Hospital (KTEH), these week-long initiatives bring tertiary-level care to district hospitals, eliminating the need for families to undertake long, costly journeys.

During a recent camp in Mpongwe District, Kitwe's specialised team—including paediatric ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses, and low vision specialists—worked alongside local health workers to provide screenings, examinations, and life-changing treatments. Over five days, 234 children were examined, and 30 received sight-saving surgeries. These camps also strengthen local health services, with KTEH staff offering supportive supervision and training to district hospital clinicians.

By combining expert care, community mobilisation, and skill-building, these surgical outreach camps are not only addressing immediate needs but also creating a foundation for sustainable, accessible eye care in Zambia’s rural communities.

Eighteen-month-old Godfrey was born with nystagmus, a condition causing rapid, uncontrollable eye movements and severely impaired vision. He struggled to stand or crawl, and his developmental milestones were delayed. His mother’s efforts to find help, including traditional remedies, were fruitless.

Everything changed when she learned about the eye care services supported by Qatar Creating Vision at Kamuchanga District Hospital. Godfrey was referred to Kitwe Teaching Eye Hospital, where specialists recommended glasses to improve his sight.

“When I told my husband our son needed glasses, he was hesitant. Local beliefs say glasses can ruin your eyes permanently, but eventually, he agreed. I’m so grateful to Orbis for giving our son the chance to grow up with good vision,” his mother shared.

Now, Godfrey is hitting milestones his family once feared he might miss. From standing to playing freely, his newfound vision has brought joy and relief to his family.

“Watching my son walk and play freely fills us with joy,” his mother said, her pride evident.

We're grateful to the Qatar Fund for Development, for making this work possible. Since the beginning of our collaboration in 2015, millions of children and adults have been able to access vital eye health services across Africa and Asia thanks to the Qatar Creating Vision project. Since the project began in Zambia last year: