Training Teachers to Save Sight

Last week marked International Women’s Day (08 March), a moment to celebrate the women transforming eye care in their communities—and to recognise the vital role supporters like you play in making their work possible.

Women and girls 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.mWomen are also helping to change this reality.

Woyinshet, an environmental science teacher and leader of the School Eye Health Club at Geresse Primary School, is one of them. Thanks to training from Orbis, she can recognise early signs of eye conditions and refer students for treatment—protecting their sight before problems become lifelong.

One of the students she recently screened was Abiyia, a 16-year-old who loves Maths, English and Science, and dreams of becoming a doctor. After the screening, Abiyia was referred to the local health centre, where she will receive a pair of glasses free of charge.

Thanks to your support, Orbis is helping to change this story—by supporting women to lead the delivery of eye care in their communities and ensuring women and girls receive the treatment they need to thrive.