Outreach programs help ensure that no one is left without eye care

A man looks into the eyes of a little boy
Written by Ashley Anderson, published on May 25, 2021 Give the Gift of Sight

Six-year-old Innocent lives in Nchenga Village, Zambia. Since the age of four, he has been suffering from conjunctivitis. Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. In areas where access to clean water is limited, this unpleasant infection can spread quickly. 

Although Innocent’s mother, Theresa, knew that her son had an eye infection, she was unable to take him for treatment because the nearest clinic was 22 km away. With no other option, she resorted to administering traditional herbal remedies that did little to improve the infection.  

An ophthalmic nurse screens Innocent for eye conditions and diagnoses him with conjunctivitis

Fortunately, Operation Eyesight conducted an outreach screening program in Nchenga Village in November 2020. These screening camps are critical to ensure that eye care is accessible for all by eliminating the barriers caused by a lack of transportation and significant time needed to reach the nearest health facility.  

As conjunctivitis can be transmitted easily, Innocent’s little sister was also screened

Theresa was thrilled to finally have an opportunity to get her son the medical attention he needed. At the outreach camp, Innocent was screened by an ophthalmic nurse and diagnosed with conjunctivitis. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, he was given antibiotics free of charge. Now, Innocent’s eyes are no longer bothering him, and he can play with his sister and his friends unimpeded. 

Support from donors like you help make these outreach programs possible. Donate today to help more children like Innocent get access to the eye health care they need.