The Fred Hollows Foundation recently screened 2,188 school children for debilitating eye conditions in war-torn Afghanistan.
A week-long school based eye camp in the Nangarhar Province – the sixth since 2007 - was conducted in partnership with Human Concern International and the Ministry of Public Health Hospital, Nangarhar.
“It’s about local partners providing vital eye care services and transforming young lives in countries like Afghanistan, which have been devastated by war,” said The Foundation’s CEO Brian Doolan.
As a result of screening during the camp, three students were identified for sight saving surgery and The Foundation provided glasses for an additional 112 children. A further 15 students and nine locals were identified for additional investigation and treatment. Sixty-eight school teachers were trained to screen for eye conditions and provide community eye health education.
The Foundation is working to eliminate blindness and other eye conditions which prevent children from attending school.
Similar activities are scheduled to continue in Afghanistan throughout 2010.
The Foundation works with local partners in the Nangarhar Province to serve an estimated population of over one million people. The program is focused on training local medical workers to meet the high demand for eye health services and ensuring sustainable service delivery in the country.
Find out more about our
Afghanistan Program.