Following 527 surgeries which were performed inAmhara region in November, the surgery campaign, which is carried out in cooperation with FitsumBirhan Eye Hospital, continued in Afar region, the poorest province in the country. There are plans to offer surgeries to 3,000 cataract patients in Ethiopia until the end of this year.

A total of 15,000 cataract patients have been offered surgeries in the country so far as part of the Africa Cataract Project. This number will rise to 18,000 with the completion of the project.

Effects of desert climate are visible in the region where majority of the population do farming and animal catering. Cataract is a widespread health problem in the country which receives sun lights directly and where most people suffer from malnutrition.

Strikingly, there is a big number of young cataract patients. There are also old people with advanced levels of cataract due to their failure to have access to treatment.