Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of blindness in the world, and nearly 50% of blindness in Ethiopia is due to cataracts. The Himalayan Cataract Project will provide outreach programs that target remote rural areas and also provide field-based training opportunities for local eye care professionals.
Ethiopia is located in Sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest burden of avoidable blindness and visual impairment in the world. Many individuals in Ethiopia are afflicted by cataracts, which can lead to debilitating blindness and prevent these individuals from working and contributing to their families. In addition to this, many young children lose the opportunity to receive an education, as they must stay at home to care for their blind family members.
Outreach eye camps allow for a large number of patients to be screened and treated for low cost. The Himalayan Cataract Project will collaborate and work with others to organize eye camps in the regions of Ethiopia that highly affected by blindness and need treatment most. In addition, these outreach camps provide training opportunities for the local eye care professionals who participate.
The sight of Ethiopian people will be restored, allowing many of them to work again and become an active part of their families and community. Some individuals will even see their family for the first time in years. The burden of blindness will be lifted from many families, allowing young children to attend school and receive the education they deserve.
