Safe Eye Care for Women & Girls in Ethiopia

Shortly after Hoyte was born, Tesfanesh became anxious about her baby’s health when his eyes began watering, and he struggled to keep them open.

"It was frightening to see Hoyte suddenly unable to open his eyes. I felt overwhelmed with worry, fearing he might lose his vision," Tesfanesh shares.

Thankfully, access to basic eye care was nearby. Tesfanesh had heard about an Orbis screening project in her village and quickly took her newborn to get checked.

Living in the SNPPR region of Ethiopia, Tesfanesh was already familiar with trachoma, a common infectious disease in their community. Trachoma causes significant discomfort and, if untreated, can lead to permanent blindness.

After being screened by Orbis, Hoyte was diagnosed with active trachoma and promptly given a six-week course of antibiotics, free of charge, to stop the infection and protect his vision.

Did you know that women are more likely to contract trachoma? In fact, women are up to four times more likely to go blind, likely due to their close contact with infected children, which increases their risk of infection. By treating Hoyte, not only was his sight saved, but his mother, Tesfanesh, was also protected from getting infected.

Thanks to the support of our incredible Orbis like you, Hoyte now has the chance to grow up with healthy sight.

Together, we are making vital eye care accessible, treating and preventing  trachoma in communities across Ethiopia. Thank you!

Links:

• Newsletter
• Instagram
• Facebook