It is one of 38 boreholes in Kapiri Mposhi District that Operation Eyesight repaired in 2022, thanks to a team of pump minders we have trained in the area. Locally available, safe water has made a difference in the lives of parents like Mutinta.

“When the borehole broke down in 2005, I was only able to wash my children’s clothes once or twice a month,” says Mutinta. “Now I’m able to wash clothes almost every day, because there is clean and safe water nearby.”

Before the borehole was fixed, Mutinta says her 15-year-old daughter, Memory, would frequently miss or be late for school because she had to walk long distances to fetch water for the family, a task that traditionally falls to girls. When Memory did attend school, she was often tired and her schoolwork suffered.

“I’m happy that my daughter will now be able to attend school regularly,” Mutinta adds.

Chali Chisala Selisho, our country director for Zambia, says that clean water nearby will play a key role in preventing the spread of trachoma, a bacterial eye infection that leads to irreversible blindness, as well as other diseases.

“Proper hand and face hygiene and sanitation are the best lines of defence against not only trachoma but other diseases like cholera, malaria, dysentery and diarrhea, which are on the rise in the area,” Chali adds.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the hard work of pump minders, Lukanda B’s future is bright!

Check out our new video from Zambia and learn more about how access to fresh water and sanitation is transforming the lives of individuals and entire communities.

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His father’s efforts to tend to the land deteriorated due to age, leaving the responsibility to the children. Despite worsening vision since childhood, Isaya has been responsible for helping with many of the farm chores.

“I was always worried for Isaya, especially when he took the cattle to graze, that he would be injured,” says his older sister, who works outside the home to support their family.

Isaya says his failing vision also made it difficult to read and complete his schoolwork. While other boys his age are in grade eight and preparing to enter high school, Isaya is in grade five at the local primary school. Sadly, their responsibilities at home and their lack of finances prevented Isaya and his family from seeking medical attention.

Last year, a local health worker, trained by Operation Eyesight, identified Isaya’s vision problems during a door-to-door screening. The screening was part of a larger community eye health project we’re implementing in partnership with CBM and Peek Vision. Isaya was diagnosed with cataract and referred to our partner Kajiado County Referral Hospital, where he received cataract surgery in one of his eyes, free of charge.

“Before the surgery, I could not clearly read the blackboard and had to sit near it so I could see what the teacher was writing,” Isaya says.

“I can now read without much struggle.”

With Isaya’s vision restored, his sister no longer has to skip work to assist him. She says she’s excited for what the future has in store for Isaya and their entire family.

“It is wonderful to see Isaya full of life and promise again,” she says.

“This blessing has ensured that both of our futures are secured and that our family will thrive!”

Donate to help provide the Gift of Sight for more children like Isaya.

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She’s also proof of the unique role women can have in impacting the health of communities across Africa.

“I was working as a community health nurse before I was invited to be trained as a primary eye care worker,” Mabel says, referring to her work with the care team at the government-run Kormantse Clinic. “There’s a high prevalence of eye conditions among the fisher folk in my community. The nature of their work makes them more likely to suffer from eye diseases. That’s why I joined the fight against avoidable blindness in the municipality.”

Today, thanks to the training she received through Operation Eyesight, Mabel provides education and eye health screening to others across the Municipality of Mfantseman. “I still carry out my duties as a community health nurse, but eye care is now well integrated in the things I do,” she says.

Vision impairment disproportionately affects women and girls across the globe, yet they are less likely to be prioritized for eye care. Lack of income and transportation are common barriers, as are traditional female responsibilities like child care and collecting water. That’s why it’s so important to have women like Mabel trained to screen for eye conditions. She can reach women and girls at home, provide referrals, and offer the information and reassurances that some may need to seek treatment.

As a single working mom, Mabel needs to balance her work with caring for her young daughter. She says she enjoys the flexibility that comes with working with Operation Eyesight.

“Operation Eyesight supports me with transportation and meals when I go to the field,” she says. “I save part of my wages to pay for my child’s school fees.”

Mabel says she’s passionate about helping others, especially those experiencing poverty.

She recalls a patient whose story has stuck with her. Yaw, a 69-year-old man who lives in Kormantse, had been experiencing blurred vision for three years. Mabel says she visited his home as part of a routine door-to-door screening and quickly discovered that he had cataracts. She referred him to the base hospital for surgery, which he promptly visited the next day. He underwent sight-restoring surgery and today he can see clearly.

Other times, Mabel may face more reluctant patients, so part of her job is to encourage those who have had little interaction with the healthcare system to get treatment, and to assure them that it’s both safe and worthwhile. She adds that spending time with people in her community is what makes her work so rewarding.

“The job gives me the opportunity to interact with many people,” Mabel says. “My family sees this job as an opportunity to change the perception about eye health through education.”

International Women’s Day 2023

March 8, 2023 is International Women’s Day – it’s an opportunity to spread the message of gender equality and highlight the importance of creating a society free of gender bias. It’s also a chance to celebrate the unique role women like Mabel play in communities globally.

Most of the community health workers trained by Operation Eyesight partner hospitals are women. When women are employed as community health workers, they have an opportunity to become trusted leaders in their communities and act as catalysts for positive health outcomes. This employment improves their ability to become active participants in their family’s socioeconomic stability.

Not only is empowering women and reducing gender inequalities the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do. Evidence shows that empowering women is one of the strongest catalysts for driving sustainable development across all sectors. It enhances economic growth, improves education and increases positive health outcomes. You can learn more about our gender strategies by signing up for our eNewsletter.

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In addition to being a full-time mom, Shakuntala also works as an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) with the Government of India, providing healthcare and referrals for others in her community of Gadhara Village.  

For the past eight years, she has provided advice to women regarding their pregnancies, referring several women each month to local health facilities. She has also supported home-based newborn care and vaccinations for children in her community.  

Thanks to primary eye care training offered by Operation Eyesight in August 2022, Shakuntala can also identify common eye conditions and provide referral for those experiencing eye health issues.  

“I got to learn a lot about eye health care,” she explains. “The training program has built my skills in measuring the vision of a person. Now I screen the eyesight of my community members with these simple techniques and refer them to Health and Wellness Centres.” 

Dec. 12 is Universal Health Coverage Day – an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of smart investment when it comes to health services. Across the globe, millions of people still don’t have access to basic health care. Through training local health staff like Shakuntala, we are working to change that. 

“We are helping ensure health care staff in the community have the skills and knowledge they need to deliver quality health care to people who need it,” explains Kashinath Bhoosnurmath, President & CEO of Operation Eyesight. 

“Universal health coverage is needed now more than ever before. Equipping health staff through eye health training brings us one step closer to making that a reality.” 

Shakuntala performs basic vision tests and identifies symptoms of conditions like cataracts, refractive error and pterygium – a growth on the eye’s conjunctiva. Armed with the knowledge and skills she gained both during her ASHA training and additional eye care training, she is able to address many of the determinants of health, including some of the root causes of avoidable blindness such as vitamin A deficiency and poor hygiene.   

One of the key recommendations of the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) 2019 World Report on Vision is to implement Integrated People-centered Eye Care (IPEC), as it will play a critical role in addressing the global eye health crisis. ‘Integrated’ eye care is care that is part of the local health system. This often requires partnership with local hospitals and often means utilizing local health resources, personnel and infrastructure. ‘People-centred’ means focusing on the needs, preferences and values of individuals and communities. 

IPEC has been a core component of Operation Eyesight’s approach for decades, because we focus on the unique needs of individuals and communities, as well as partner with local governments and health programs. In India, this includes opening local vision centres or vision points and recruiting local health workers who are predominantly women to conduct door-to-door screenings.  

“Trainings give health care staff in a community the skills and knowledge they need to make eye health care a standard part of the care they provide. Ultimately, this helps make eye care both accessible and sustainable for a community long-term,” explains Dr. Troy Cunningham, our Country Director for India. “Training local health workers like Shakuntala is a key part of that.” 

Operation Eyesight has been working closely with the state governments in both Arunachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to establish vision care facilities within already-existing government health centres, such as Health and Wellness Centres. Additionally, we are providing training for ASHAs and other healthcare providers. This has helped make eye health care services available to the most underserved populations. 

“Our approach helps ensure that we leave no one behind, especially girls and women, which translates into empowered communities that can care for their own health,” Troy adds. “This work is so exciting because it aligns with the transformative impact on India’s health system.” 

For Shakuntala, it has enabled her to cater services to the unique needs of the patients and families she serves in her own community.  

To donate to Operation Eyesight Universal and help provide training for more health workers like Shakuntala, click here.   

With files from Subhadip Bhattacharya, Head, Resource Mobilization, Operation Eyesight.

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