340,000 Cataract Surgeries

l.t.r.: Rupert Roniger, Archbishop Rouamba, Dr. Schuhmann, Chris Lohner, Dr. Bedri, Yetnebersh Nigussie, Dr. Etya´le

Founded on 21 November 1988, „Light for the World” today is one of the most important Austrian aid organisations for blind and disabled persons in the Third World.

„For 20 years we have been standing up for people trapped in poverty and disability in the Third World. Healing and prevention of blindness, the rehabilitation of disabled children and advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities are the three pillars of our work in Africa, Asia, Latin America and South East Europe. In the past two decades we have facilitated about 340,000 cataract surgeries. We also have supported 120,000 disabled children”. This is how Rupert Roniger MA, managing director of “Light for the World”, sums up the work of his organisation on the occasion of its jubilee.

The 2001 establishment of an ophthalmic ward in Jijiga/Ethiopia, providing medical care for 1.7 million people, as well as the 2004 opening of an ophthalmic clinic serving 2.5 million people in Zorgho/Burkina Faso represented cornerstones of the organisation’s work in aid of blind and visually impaired persons. “In order to be able to guarantee the sustainability of this aid, “Light for the World” does not only support the establishment of ophthalmic facilities, but also the training of local specialists”, explains Dr. Gerhard Schuhmann Phd, Senior Physician at the University Clinic of Ophthalmology Graz  and honorary board member at “Light for the World”.

Ethiopia is the focal point of the work of „Light for the World”. 16 relief projects are all about healing and prevention of blindness as well as about training ophthalmic specialized personnel. “Blindness is one of the biggest health issues in our country”, confirms the Ethiopian ophthalmologist Dr. Amir Bedri. The national rate of blindness in Ethiopia is 1.6 percent, in the Ethiopian Somali Region even 5.4 percent – one of the highest rates worldwide. The number one cause of blindness are cataracts, closely followed by the infectious disease trachoma.

90 Percent of all blind persons live in less developed countries

Dr. Daniel Etya’ale, Africa-Coordinator of the WHO-Campaign ”Vision 2020“, which has the target of eradicating preventable blindness until the year 2020, explains the bigger picture: “9 out of 10 of the 160 million blind and visually impaired persons worldwide live in less developed countries, and only a fourth of them is receiving help. The main problem is the shortage of ophthalmologists. But blindness and visual impairment in the Third World is not only a medical, but also a socio-economic problem. After all, poverty and blindness are closely linked.”

„Poverty is one of the main causes of disability in less developed countries”, continues the blind attorney Yetnebersh Nigussie, who works at the Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD), fighting for the rights of persons with disabilities in her home country: “Lack of health education about the causes of disabilities, contaminated water, lack of medical treatment as well as malnutrition are the main causes of disabilities. This means that every other disability in Africa could be avoided with the simplest measures. ECDD cooperates with “Light for the World” in the struggle against discrimination and for giving persons with disabilities in Ethiopia access to schooling and paid labour".

Msgr. Séraphin Rouamba is archbishop of the Koupela diocese in Burkina Faso and project partner of „Light for the World” in the field  of rehabilitation for disabled children: “As a Christian the name “Light for the World” always reminds me of the words of Jesus “I am the light of the world”, and of his promise that the blind will be able to see and the limping will be able to walk again. Only few can come to us to see the harsh reality of how disabled children in Burkina Faso drag out their existence. But with the support of “Light for the World” we can considerably better their living conditions, especially concerning health, nutrition, education and integration into their social surroundings.”

Chris Lohner is voluntary Good Will Ambassador for „Light for the World” for seven years now. Time and again she participates in relief operations in the poverty-stricken areas of our world: “As a contemporary witness of the humanitarian work of “Light for the World” I witness time and again, how people – often after years of blindness – are healed from cataracts, or how disabled children after having received surgery and mobility training are able to take their first steps into an independent life. The joy and bliss of these people for me is the strongest motivation to continue walking this path: giving support where support is urgently needed.”