Imagine eyelashes scratching like a metal brush

| By Lorie Gibson, former Vice-President of International Programs
Categories: Eye Surgery, Kenya
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Trachoma is the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. I have seen people suffering from it in developing countries like Kenya and Zambia, where it is the most common and widespread eye health issue. An agonizing disease borne of a lack of clean water and poor sanitation, trachoma causes permanent blindness if left untreated. The… Continue Reading Imagine eyelashes scratching like a metal brush

A child’s brush with blindness

| By Lynne Dulaney, Former Director of Communications
Categories: Eye Surgery, Kenya, Our Work
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Growing up, my two kids were prone to the usual childhood mishaps… scraped knees, bumped heads, sprained wrists, even the odd black eye. Fortunately, their eye injuries were rare and never vision-threatening. In Africa, however, I saw children with eye traumas caused by large razor-like acacia thorns, sharp splinters of firewood, poorly-aimed rocks and sticks… Continue Reading A child’s brush with blindness

Options are available to help developing African countries (Part 2 of 2)

| By Pat Ferguson, former President and CEO
Categories: Kenya, Prevention
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Ultimately, Operation Eyesight’s goal in Africa is to help each country achieve a comprehensive health care system that includes eye care – one that they can sustain without foreign support. Our commitment to sustainability – both fiscal and programmatic – will ensure that these collaborative projects and programs will continue long after our departure. Our… Continue Reading Options are available to help developing African countries (Part 2 of 2)

Options are available to help developing African countries (Part 1 of 2)

| By Pat Ferguson, former President and CEO
Categories: Kenya, Prevention
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Working with African people for many years, we have been constantly impressed with their initiative, leadership and awareness of their own social, economic and health care challenges. These are not helpless people. They have many of the tools they need to improve their own systems, except financial and human resources. With this in mind, Operation… Continue Reading Options are available to help developing African countries (Part 1 of 2)

Frontline workers reach remote patients in Africa (Part 2 of 2)

| By Lynne Dulaney, Former Director of Communications
Categories: Communities, Kenya
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Last week, I told you how many African countries are training frontline workers, including public health care staff, schoolteachers, midwives and traditional healers, to identify eye problems and other health concerns when they are working in the community. This type of community development program is highly effective in identifying health risks. When I was at… Continue Reading Frontline workers reach remote patients in Africa (Part 2 of 2)