Restoring Vision In the New Sudan

More than 90% of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries like Sudan. The principle causes of vision problems and blindness in Southern Sudan—Trachoma, Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), and childhood malnutrition—can be prevented or treated.
According to the World Health Organization...

The medical clinic in Nimule, South Sudan

• There is only 1 eye care specialist for every 500,000 people in Southern Sudan.
• In rural Sudan, 6.4% of the population is blind (1% is blind in the rest of Africa).
• In rural areas, 35% of blindness is due to River Blindness.
• Almost 20% of the world's blind people live in sub-Saharan Africa
• An estimated 2.2 million Africans are blind due to trachoma.
• There are at least 300,000 blind children in Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, globally, up to 75% of all blindness is avoidable. However, in Sudan most people do not have access to health care or education about the importance of annual eye examinations to maintain sight. Poverty, inadequate healthcare and the lack of a supply of available eyeglasses renders adequate vision unattainable to most of the population.

A home visit for an eye examination

In the Spring of 2008 I participated in Operation Nehemiah’s “Sight for Sudan” project. We were able to do eye exams and provide eyeglasses to over 200 Sudanese. We had also identified 50 people whose vision was impaired by cataracts. I recently received word from William Levi of Operation Nehemiah that these people are still in need of surgery. On my next trip I hope to bring an eye surgeon to help meet this need. I also plan on bringing along some eye care equipment, a focometer and a retinoscope, available through InFocus, a non-profit organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness

The restoration of sight to people with vision problems is an important step toward empowering the Sudanese people. Restoring a person's sight can enable him or her to hold a job and contribute to feeding and housing a family. It can also mean that a person can participate more fully in society, and enjoy seeing the world and be able to read. Please consider supporting this effort by offsetting some of the $1,000 cost of the eye equipment we need to help people see again.