A simple surgery costing only €20 could save someone’s sight.

In too many countries children who are blind or visually impaired struggle in school, are unable to join the workforce or contribute to their family income and, more than often, are seen as a burden on families and society. Even more shocking is that up to half of children in developing countries who become blind will die within a year.

With effective treatment, someone’s suffering could be over in a matter of hours. Their sight could be saved and their life transformed.

Out of the two million people who are currently living in the Gamo Gofa, Derashe and Konso regions of southern Ethiopia, approximately 34,000 people are suffering with a chronic, painful and blinding disease and are in need of immediate surgical intervention. Unless treated these young people will become blind, will no longer be productive and will be a burden on the community and the country at large.

ORBIS is conducting a number of outreach programmes to particularly remote areas of the Gamo Gofa, Derashe and Konso regions, where there is currently little or no primary eye care. In early August, ORBIS will travel to Mazo Doyisa, within this region, to conduct vital sight saving surgeries.