Rays of light in the Blindness Prevention Program in Ethiopia

First patients treated in Zewaye

Within a few days only, it gets around: Eyesight is saved in Zewaye

Due to their close contact, women and children are most heavily affected by trachoma, which is the most widespread eye disease in Ethiopia.
If an infection is not treated in time, the eyelid and conjunctiva begin to swell, eventually forming scar tissue. The eyelid turns inward, causing the eyelashes to scratch the cornea. If left untreated, this painful affliction leads to irreversible blindness.

In parts of the Oromia region of Ethiopia, some 74% of the population suffers from active trachoma; in some areas, the rate of infection even exceeds 85% among children under five years of age.

Until recently, the inhabitants of the region had no regular access to professional eye care. The only way in which they received examinations and treatment was through irregular field work carried out by clinics far away. However, these sporadic missions were not enough to put an end to the spread of trachoma.

At an early stage, trachoma can be healed with antibiotic treatment.

Therefor, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD has built up an eyeclinic in Zewaye, in cooperation with a local partner. Constructing the building was possibled due to the support of the austrian enterprise Premium Immobilien AG and it could be opened in february .
Now the first patients are examined and treated there.

At a later stage, sighth can only be saved by surgery, like here for Mikail Tiruneh.

Throughout the year, trained local medical specialists will now treat patients suffering from eye diseases and blindness: In the early stages of the disease, trachoma patients can be treated with antibiotics, while eyelid surgery is required in later stages.
The goal is to prevent people from going blind permanently by performing some 1,500 trachoma operations per year as well as 1,000 cataract operations per year to restore people's eyesight.

In addition, the employees at the clinic in Zewaye carry out crucial education and prevention work, informing some 120,000 people per year about how they can avoid trachoma infections.
In schools, a large-scale trachoma information program will reduce the number of new infections markedly.

The new eye clinic in Zewaye will make a substantial and sustainable contribution to combating blindness in Ethiopia.