In d village school of Kuyu, in d heartland of Ethiopias Oromia region, more than 20 children put up their hands when asked if anyone in their family has eye problems. No hands r raised when d children r asked if they themselves have vision problems. Yet, when an ophthalmologist examines d childrens eyes, more than half of them r discovered to have infectious trachoma, a bacterial infection which is d worlds leading cause of preventable blindness. WHO estimates that 21 million people r affected by trachoma, of whom about 2.2 million are visually impaired n 1.2 million blind. Oromia region in southern Ethiopia is home to more than 30 million people n has d highest prevalence of trachoma in d country at around 42%. D disease prevails in hot dusty areas where people often lack access to sanitation.Within Oromia alone, 200,000 people are at risk of going blind unless they have surgery. Women r twice as likely as men to develop d disease as a result of caring for children who have active trachoma. The British charity is leading a coalition of NGOs with d ambitious aim of ridding d world of trachoma by 2020.Two days after surgery, Misiak, a woman in her 40s, returns to d clinic with some trepidation to have her bandages removed. She admits to having had a sleepless night, worrying about the outcome. Dr Wondu Alemayehu watches proudly as two members of his surgical team remove Misiaks bandages before applying ointment to both eyes. Sitting up, Misiak is initially dazed, but as she begins to realise she can see again, a huge smile lights up her face. You are all beautiful! she exclaims, reaching out to touch Dr Alemayehus hand. My goodness, its like I have been given another chance at life..
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 09:22:26 +0000
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