Ensuring Girls in Ethiopia Receive Basic Eye Care

I am based in Konso in southern Ethiopia. I have seen trachoma in my community for many years. Robbing people of their sight.

Thanks to Orbis, we now know how to stop it – better sanitation, face washing, treatment, and surgery (if it is needed). I have received training from Orbis and I see how it works, and I understand – the eye is itchy, then red, the tears come and then pain and then they lose their sight. It's really that simple. 

At first only a few had surgery, but over time more and more who were suffering went along to their health centres for treatment. And now, thanks to Orbis very few need the surgery anymore.

We are happy to be cleaner but some people still need convinced. There is more to do but already there are fewer flies. We understand the need and are working together as a community to reach the goal of beating trachoma.

Water is a huge problem here. After working in the farms our faces are dirty, by the time we get home the water left over is not enough to wash properly.

The other women and I are agents here for the people to fight trachoma. We have learned much from Orbis. I became involved because the group needed a leader. I speak a little Amharic and live near the road so can go to meetings, this is why they chose me I think.

We do not count how many surgeries we make happen. But everyone that needs one gets one. I had a cataract and it was taken out.

Education is important and we have had to overcome the gender bias.

I don’t know if trachoma will be beaten in my lifetime, but for the rest of my life, I will try, with the support of a strong group of women, to eliminate this ghastly disease.