A patch comes off, a world comes alive
Seven-year-old Blaise was slowly losing his sight in Rwanda. Blind in one eye and with cataract clouding the other, everyday life was a struggle. Schoolwork was difficult and even simple play became a challenge. His mother, Redempta, worried constantly about his future.
Thanks to the support of people like you, Blaise was brought to Kabgayi Eye Unit, where paediatric ophthalmologist Dr Tuyisabe Theophile performed surgery that restored his sight.
When the patches were lifted, Blaise saw his mother clearly for the first time in months. Redempta could barely contain her tears: “I left with a child who was blind and came back with a child who can see. That child is the future of Rwanda.”
Nine out of ten people who are blind or vision impaired don’t need to be. Your support helps The Fred Hollows Foundation train surgeons, equip hospitals, and expand access to eye care across Rwanda. Together, we can ensure that no one loses their sight unnecessarily.
The barriers are real
Many people in Rwanda can’t get the eye care they need, putting them at risk of avoidable blindness.
A growing need
Around one in three people with cataract in Rwanda don’t know their condition is treatable.
Limited access
In 2022, five of the seven hospitals offering regular cataract surgery were in or near Kigali, leaving most rural areas underserved.
Children and adults at risk
Delayed treatment can lead to permanent blindness, even when surgery could restore sight.
Workforce limitations
Rwanda has just 1.7 cataract surgeons per million people, well below the WHO recommendation of 4 per million — highlighting the urgent need to train more specialists.
Rwanda’s time has come
Together, we can clear the cataract backlog by 2035 and lay the foundations to end avoidable blindness by 2040.
- Train a larger local eye health workforce
- Bring services closer to communities in rural and regional areas
- Equip and staff eye care units in additional district hospitals
“The Fred Hollows Foundation has supported six ophthalmologists who are now working in provinces with the highest need. There is a lot of work to do, but this is just one example where supporters have improved access to eye health in Rwanda.” — Tiva Kananura, Country Manager, Rwanda
Since 2006, your support has helped:
Screen 2.6 million people
Expand services from 8 to 22 hospitals
Perform 57,000 cataract surgeries
Train 6 new ophthalmologists
Fred believed good eye health was a right, not a privilege
Fred Hollows believed everyone deserves access to quality eye care. In 1987, he inspired the creation of intraocular lens factories in Eritrea, designed to make sight-restoring surgery affordable across Africa. “We hope that Eritrea will be able to make IOL factories and export them to other African countries at a price they can afford,” he said. He succeeded—these factories continue to produce lenses used in more than 50 countries, giving millions the chance to see again.
“I discovered that one of the most useful things a doctor could do [in Africa] was to take out a cataract.” – Fred Hollows
Today, The Fred Hollows Foundation continues Fred’s vision, training surgeons, strengthening eye health systems, and restoring sight in countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Your support helps continue Fred’s legacy and ensures more people can regain independence, pursue education, and reach their potential.
