Ensuring Access to Clean Water and Sanitation

In 2024, Orbis Ireland made significant strides in the fight against avoidable blindness in rural southern Ethiopia.
Thanks to the unwavering support of Irish Aid, our generous donors like you, and dedicated volunteers, we reached some of the country’s most underserved communities with life-changing eye care services and essential WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) infrastructure. These interventions are not just improving sight—they are transforming lives.

This year, our work focuses on ensuring that children can learn, grow, and thrive in a healthy environment that protects them from diseases like trachoma, one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in Ethiopia. Trachoma spreads easily in areas where access to clean water and sanitation is limited, making WASH interventions a vital part of our holistic eye care strategy.

Key 2024 Achievements:

• 15 schools gained access to clean water units, providing safe drinking water and handwashing facilities to over 13,000 students and teachers.

  • This brings the total number of schools with access to clean water to 23, ensuring that thousands of children can now wash their hands regularly and maintain better hygiene, reducing the risk of eye infections and other illnesses.

• 3 new schools received latrine facilities, dramatically improving sanitation for 4,243 students.

  • Separate facilities for boys and girls also help keep young women in school, particularly during menstruation, improving both health and education outcomes.

Beyond the numbers, these projects are about restoring dignity and opportunity. Clean water and safe sanitation allow children to stay in school, learn without the fear of disease, and protect their eyesight for the future.

A Holistic Approach to Ending Avoidable Blindness
By combining eye care (examinations & surgery) with hygiene promotion, sanitation improvements, and education, we tackle the root causes of preventable blindness at the source. WASH facilities in schools and villages reduce disease transmission, while school-based eye care programmes empower teachers and children to become health champions in their communities.

With every water harvesting unit installed and every latrine built, we are not only preventing blindness but also laying the foundation for healthier, more resilient communities. This is the power of your support—turning clean water into clear vision and transforming futures for generations to come.

Together, We Can Eliminate Trachoma

Did you know that over 50% of the world’s trachoma cases are found in Ethiopia? Trachoma is a painful, infectious eye disease that can lead to permanent blindness—and yet it’s entirely preventable.

At Orbis, we believe no one should lose their sight simply because they lack access to clean water. That’s why we integrate WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) solutions into our eye health programmes to tackle trachoma at its root.

Thanks to your support and strategic partnerships on the ground, we’re installing rainwater harvesting systems in schools across rural Ethiopia. These systems provide a clean, sustainable water source that empowers children to practice good hygiene—especially hand and face washing, which is key to stopping the spread of trachoma.

Here’s how it works:

1. Rainwater falls onto the roof of a school.

2. It’s channelled into gutters and downpipes.

3. The water is stored in large, hygienic tanks.

4. It flows through a basic plumbing system.

5. Clean water is dispensed from taps, ready for use.

It’s a simple idea with life-changing impact. Children can wash their hands and faces regularly—reducing the risk of infection, protecting their vision, and helping their communities move closer to eliminating trachoma.

But we need your help to reach more schools, more families, and more communities. Pleae support this project and help bring clean water—and clear sight—to children in rural Ethiopia.