Orbis will conduct simple eye surgeries across the poorest sections of Ethiopia. These surgeries will cure thousands of people at immediate risk of blindness, who are currently suffering from the painful, blinding and life destroying eye disease - trachoma.
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease and in many countries, like Ethiopia, it continues to bring pain, blindness and poverty to millions. Trachoma is prevalent in Ethiopia and out of the 3 million people living in the region where Orbis is focused, approx 34,000 people are suffering with trachoma and are in the need of immediate surgical intervention. Unless treated these young people will become blind, will no longer be productive and will be a burden on the community and the country at large.
In particularly remote areas of the Gamo Gofa region, without Orbis, there would be no eye care facilities, yet a simple surgery can save someone's sight. Therefore with effective surgery, someone's suffering could be over in a matter of hours.
The outreach program will visit a region with a population of 6,000 and during the program more than 1000 people will be screened for trachoma and more than 120 surgeries will be conducted - removing pain, restoring vision and transforming lives.
