Each year thousands of African people lose their vision in cataract caused by hot temperatures, eating habits and climatic conditions. Adding to that the shortage of eye doctors, many cataract patients in rural areas cannot undergo surgery and live in darkness. The number of African people suffering from cataract is estimated to be about five million. 

The IHH launched a cataract campaign in world’s poorest continent, Africa four years ago. IHH health teams save cataract-ridden African people through examination and surgery.

The foundation opened an eye clinic at Khartoum’s Abdul Fadel Almas Eye Hospital and has been providing health services to 150 patients a day. The IHH is also taking health services to rural people who cannot afford a trip to Khartoum with mobile clinics and mobile eye camps. 

Health teams visited the city of Babennusa as part of the Khartoum-based Africa Cataract Project. The surgery team performed on 174 patients in 19 different camps and brought them to the light. With the new surgeries the number of the Sudanese brought to the light reached 20,000.

There are no eye hospital and eye doctors in Babennusa, 1.5 hour drive from the capital city. The week-long mission included surgeries and health screenings. Certain patients were given medication.

Cataract surgeries are in progress in Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

You can help an African regain his vision by donating 100 Turkish liras.