Africa

Around 18% of the world's blind population live in Africa and cataract accounts for half of cases. There is less than one ophthalmologist for every one million people in Africa and less than 10% of those requiring eye surgery actually receive it.

The Fred Hollows Foundation has had a long association with the African region, starting with Fred Hollows first visit to Eritrea in 1986.

Today, The Foundation's programs in Africa focus on comprehensive eye health systems with an emphasis on the training of medical staff, screening for poor vision and eye disease, subsidised treatment and provision of equipment and infrastructure. Working across Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania, the programs are supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation in Australia and run in collaboration with local partners and The Fred Hollows Foundation South Africa.

  • Arrow link Eritrea
    Photo courtesy of www.lannonharley.com Fred first visited a war-torn Eritrea in 1986. This had a huge impact on Fred, sending him on a path that would lead to the establishment of The Fred Hollows Foundation and unprecedented advancements in cataract surgery in the developing world. Today, The Foundation's Eritrea Blindness Prevention Program aims to reduce avoidable blindness by building the capacity of the public health system.
  • Arrow link Kenya
    Photo courtesy of The Fred Hollows Foundation In 2002 The Fred Hollows Foundation started working in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. With more than 300, 000 people living with blindness in Kenya, the long-term goal of the program is to build the capacity of the public health system to assist people with cataract blindness.
  • Arrow link Rwanda
    Photo courtesy of The Fred Hollows Foundation The Fred Hollows Foundation is establishing a five-year project to provide eye health services and medical staff training in remote areas of the Rubavu District in the Western Province of Rwanda.
  • Arrow link South Africa
    Photo courtesy of Sandy Scheltema/The Age. According to the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, an estimated 225,000 people are needlessly blind from cataracts in South Africa. The Fred Hollows Foundation has been working in South Africa since 1999.
  • Arrow link Tanzania
    Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/brockzilla/ In partnership with the Kilimanjaro College of Community Ophthalmology in Tanzania, The Fred Hollows Foundation supports eye care personnel throughout the Eastern Africa region to complete courses over three years.