Distributing Medication to Prevent Blindness

Ten years ago, Yishamu became one of the first Health Extension Workers trained through the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. As a Health Extension Worker, Yishamu works to improve the health and well-being of families, particularly women and children, throughout the Konso Zone. She conducts routine examinations and check-ups, and provides vital health education, including the importance of good hygiene practices.

“We vis­it each and every mem­ber of our com­mu­ni­ty as assigned to teach them about var­i­ous health issues, includ­ing eye health care. We most­ly focus on pre­ven­tion. We have also had var­i­ous addi­tion­al train­ings orga­nized by Orbis on per­son­al hygiene, tra­choma iden­ti­fi­ca­tion and patient referral.”

As a Health Extension Worker, Yishamu plays a critical role in preventing the spread of blinding trachoma in her community.

Yishamu and her team of Health Extension Workers and community volunteers visit each and every home in their assigned community to distribute trachoma fighting antibiotics, examine people for signs of active trachoma infection or trichiasis, and deliver critical health information and education on how to limit the spread of the disease.

We are incredibly fortunate to have selfless and compassionate people like Yishamu who have dedicated their lives to freeing their communities from the burden of blinding trachoma. On behalf of Orbis and the tens of thousands of people who have been saved from a lifetime of blindness, we say thank you!