It’s thought that 33,000 people in the country have cataracts, leaving them blind or severely visually impaired, yet until recently there were very few ophthalmologists who could provide the sight-saving treatment they needed.
Sightsavers is working to reduce sight loss and improve eye care services in Mozambique by providing transport, equipment and medicine, training ophthalmic technicians and carrying out cataract operations. In Nampula province, we’re expanding community eye care services so they reach people with and without disabilities.
We’re also working to eliminate trachoma, an infectious disease that can lead to blindness. To stop the spread of the disease, we follow the SAFE strategy, a public health approach endorsed by the World Health Organization that focuses on surgery, antibiotics, face washing and environmental improvements.
Throughout the pandemic, our priority has been to restart our work quickly and safely. Sightsavers staff reveal our how eye care programmes have evolved in the past 18 months.
Sightsavers has been working to strengthen eye health services in Mozambique since 2007. Now, new research shows exactly what we have achieved.
In Pakistan, teachers have given insights into their experiences of vision screening in schools. Plus updates from Senegal, Mozambique and Nigeria.