Eye Care Programme Update
October – December 2022
Cataracts, glaucoma, river blindness – “the neglected disease of forgotten people”, are prevalent in Sudan, together with various forms of conjunctivitis and corneal scarring, the latter often related to vitamin A deficiency. Most of these conditions are preventable or treatable if screened early. Yet, poverty and the inaccessibility of some communities means around 40% of sufferers have no access to treatment. 90% of our literacy participants, for example, have fled deprivation in Darfur and the Nuba Mountains and often arrive in Khartoum with pre-existing conditions contracted in their homelands.
Above, the aims of our Eye Care Programme at Women’s Education Partnership, and below, what we do to make them happen. You can learn more about the programme in Restoring Vision – Our Eye Care Programme, which outlines our pre-pandemic achievements and the story behind our work in this field.
Eye Care Programme Update
The pandemic gravely impeded our outreach work but we are very happy to report that in late October last year, we received ministry and Humanitarian Aid Commission approval to resume our eye care programme, in collaboration with our local partner, The Eye Charitable Organization. As planned, we carried out outreaches in Al-Fateh 1, Omdurman North, Al-Fateh 2 and Mayo Mandella. These communities are some of the most deprived in terms of access to health care and education and suffer disproportionately high rates of preventable eye disease.
Below, background and highlights October-November 2022.
Among the surgeries carried out were fifteen cataract operations. Cataracts are the major cause of blindness in Africa. Childhood cataracts, caused by genetic and environmental factors, can rob children of their educational potential. Many families cannot afford or do not know about surgery. Many states in Sudan have no eye hospitals and so treatment opportunities are largely restricted to the capital. Cataracts often coexist with other eye conditions and it is believed that Sudan’s dry, intensely sunny and dusty climate contributes to the high incidence of the condition.
While patients were waiting to see our team of opticians and ophthalmologists, they were given the chance to attend talks on eye care, eye disease prevention and hygiene. In this way, we aim to increase awareness and knowledge of eye health throughout the communities we serve. Below, Dr.Nabila examining a young patient.
“We are telling them that we came for you in your place, instead of you coming to us. This is the first message. The second message that we are not superior to them – we are just coming to help or if they are in need of something for us to do for them”– Dr.Nabila
Below, photos taken by our colleagues in Khartoum October / November last year.
Could you help us?
Since the pandemic, economic pressures, fuel shortages and lack of vital medicines have combined to bring about massive increases in the cost of medicines for and transport to our communities. We will be working hard over the coming months to secure the funding we need to carry on our eye care work. Your kindness can help save someone’s sight in Sudan.
We are so grateful for every donation made..
Just click on the link below to donate. Every donation makes a huge difference.
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This is an eye care post for Women’s Education Partnership
Learn about our women’s literacy, orphans schooling and university scholarship projects programmes below:
Opening Doors – Our Women’s Literacy Programme
Our University Scholarships – giving bright young women the chance to go to university
Scenes from Our Orphans’ Schooling Programme and From Hardship to Hope Our Orphans Schooling Programme
Women's literacy in Sudan 