Last week (08 March) marked International Women’s Day, a moment to celebrate the women transforming eye care in their communities—and to recognise the role supporters like you play in making their work possible.
Women still face greater barriers to eye care. Globally, 112 million more women than men are living with blindness or vision impairment, often due to limited health education, financial challenges, and cultural barriers that make it harder to seek treatment. Trachoma, a painful infection that can lead to blindness, highlights this inequality. In Ethiopia, 70% of people with severe, blinding trachoma are women, partly because caregiving roles increase their risk of catching and passing on the infection.
But women are also helping to break that cycle. Aster, an Orbis-trained local health worker, is protecting families from trachoma in rural Ethiopia. She visits homes to teach families about hygiene, identify early symptoms, and ensure people receive antibiotics before the infection causes permanent damage.
For those already suffering from advanced trachoma, Aster provides life-changing treatment. She has performed around 200 sight-saving surgeries.
“Helping people was always my passion, and now it’s my job,” Aster says.
Women like Aster are playing a vital role in the fight against avoidable blindness. Thanks to your support, Orbis is helping women lead the delivery of eye care in their communities—bringing sight and hope to families around the world.
