Almost thirty years since Fred first went to Eritrea, his legacy lives on in the street, kindergarten and lens factory named after him. Eritrea of today is much like the one Fred knew, where its independence is proudly guarded and the resilience and determination of its people a constant motivation for the work we do.
A brief introduction to Eritrea
Located at the top of the Horn of Africa and overlooking the Red Sea coast, Eritrea is a vibrant gateway to the Middle East. Its capital, Asmara, is reminiscent of an old Italian movie set. Art deco architecture lines the streets, with coffee machines and vintage bikes popping up as occasional reminders of Eritrea’s Italian colonisation until the start of World War II.
Fred first came to Eritrea in 1986 when the country was embroiled in its long war for independence. While he observed many people suffering from blindness, he also saw great hope. He was inspired by the Eritrean people and the work carried out by pharmacists who were forced underground during the war. Despite being faced with many barriers, the pharmacists simply persevered with their work. It was from these experiences that Fred decided he was going to open a factory to produce and bring down the cost of intraocular lenses. By opening a factory, it would empower Eritrean people to take charge and create a valuable export income for the country. Part of Fred’s plan was to also impart his skills and knowledge to local doctors, so they could continue the work and help their people.
While Fred set in motion the local training, he sadly never got to see the factory. However, his dream came true and the factory has gone on to produce millions of cost-effective intraocular lenses for cataract surgeries in this and other developing countries.
What are the eye health problems?
Eritrea has a population of over 6 million, with around half living below the poverty line. Despite great improvements in disease control, there are still issues around sanitation and access to clean water. This means
eye health diseases are widespread, especially when there’s little access to quality care.
Cataract is the main cause of avoidable blindness in Eritrea, with trachoma also being prevalent. With cataract, there are many barriers stopping people from accessing eye health services such as a lack of awareness of help available and difficultly accessing outreach programs.
As far as trachoma is concerned, it’s estimated over 4 million people live in trachoma endemic zones and 42,000 have potentially blinding trachoma where the eyelashes invert and painfully rub on the cornea. We’re working on prevention strategies such as surgery and the distribution of antibiotics as well as further training of local health workers.
The Foundation's programs in Eritrea
Through the relationship Fred forged with the Eritrean people, The Foundation has been able to continue working closely with the Ministry of Health over the years. Because of this, The Foundation is in a unique position to fully integrate its program into the country’s national blindness prevention strategy.
The Foundation works with the Eritrean Ministry of Health as well as the Asmara College of Health Sciences to build the capacity of Eritrean eye health systems so they can deliver high quality services. With a particular focus on cataract and trachoma, The Foundation works to implement a comprehensive approach by supporting the delivery of eye health services, increasing community awareness and access to services, training eye health professionals and addressing the infrastructure needs
We're making significant progress
Thanks to some great work with our partners, we achieved a lot in 2022 in some of our key strategic areas.
In-country programs
- Screened 174,239 people
- Supported 60,299 eye operations and treatments including 8,202 cataract surgeries, 2,358 surgeries to treat trachoma, 479 diabetic retinopathy treatments and 49,260 other sight saving or improving interventions
- Distributed 4,652 pairs of glasses
Research, training and technology
- Trained 903 people, including 18 surgeons, 40 clinic support staff, 608 community health workers, 160 teachers and 77 educators
- Educated 227,500 school children and community members in eye health and sanitation
- Equipped 20 medical facilities, training centres, schools and other facilities