Cataract causes about 50% of avoidable blindness in Africa, which is curable with a simple and cost-effective 15-minute surgery. Despite high prevalence of avoidable blindness, eye care services are some of the most understaffed of the continent's already challenged health systems. Entire districts in some countries do not have access to a single trained eye care worker.

Thanks to support from donors like you, Seva is working to confront this gap by supporting and strengthening eye health services throughout Africa.

Rather than build our own eye hospitals, Seva works in partnership with local programs and institutions.

In Moshi, Tanzania, Seva helped to establish and still supports the Kilimanjaro Center for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO).  KCCO Co-Founder Dr. Susan Lewallen explains, "if you're imagining a situation like in the U.S. or any developed country, then you are assuming that people know how to find a doctor, and that they can afford to get to the doctor let alone pay the bill. But it doesn't work that way in poor, developing countries. Community ophthalmology looks at how to match up patients with the services." KCCO is focused on quality program development, training, and research, all intended to help eye care service providers and public health workers reach a huge population that has never had eye care before.

Over the past few years, Seva has expanded our support to build capacity and expand eye care in Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Madagascar, Uganda and Zambia.

In Ethiopia for example, one of the least developed countries in Africa, eye care in rural areas is just about about non-existent. The prevalence of active trachoma for children age 1-9, a disease that could blind them for life, is a staggering 40%, a prevalence rate that is among the highest in the world.

With your continued support, Seva and partners are helping to expand access to vital sight-saving eye care services.

Dr. Suzanne Gilbert, Senior Director of Seva's Innovation and Sight Program, explains, "We are thrilled that during the past three years, seven of our partner hospitals in Africa have achieved an 110% increase in the number of cataract surgeries performed. Our aim is to make this kind of improvement in the number, quality, and equity of services available to communities throughout the continent. By having more and better trained ophthalmologists working as part of a skilled eye care team, the possibilities are limitless." She goes on to note, "the services shown in this video from the North Shoa Regional Hospital, in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia (featured above) are just the beginning".

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