Safe Eye Care for Women & Girls in Ethiopia

In a quiet village just outside Durame, southern Ethiopia, seven-year-old Meskerem lives with her parents, three brothers, and grandmother, Nurame. Her father, Teshome, farms avocado, maize, and enten (false banana), working hard to provide for the family. Like many children her age, Meskerem is full of curiosity and eager to learn—but until recently, something stood in her way.

For some time, Meskerem struggled with pain and discomfort in her eyes. Even everyday tasks—reading her schoolbooks or looking at a whiteboard—caused sharp irritation. “The white paper hurts her eyes, just like the sunlight,” her mother Alemitu explains. “She cannot read or write properly as she normally would. Of course, this affects her education. It is not the first time she has had this problem, so I worry about what it will mean for her schooling.”

Meskerem was suffering from active trachoma, an infectious eye condition that, if left untreated, can lead to permanent blindness. Sadly, it’s a reality faced by many children in Ethiopia, especially in remote communities where access to healthcare is limited. In 2017, the prevalence of trachoma in Meskerem’s area was as high as 30%. But luckily, things are changing. Thanks to Orbis and its local partners and supporters like you, the trachoma rate in the region has dropped to just 9%. This progress is the result of long-term commitment, regular Mass Drug Administration, and crucially, house-to-house eye screenings delivered by trained Integrated Health Workers.These frontline workers are the beating heart of Orbis's efforts to bring safe, accessible eye care directly to communities.

One such health worker, Aster, visited Meskerem’s home recently. With gentle care and expertise, Aster examined Meskerem’s eyes and diagnosed the infection. She provided antibiotic eye ointment, explaining how it should be applied three times a day for six weeks. At the end of the treatment, Aster will return to check on Meskerem’s recovery.

For Alemitu, this kind of home-based care has made all the difference. “I am very happy to receive the antibiotics free of charge, and at home,” she says. “We have nothing in our hands which could allow us to visit a clinic, so we are very thankful for this support.”

Thanks to this treatment, Meskerem is now on the road to recovery. Her eyes are healing, and she will soon be able to return to school without pain. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, her future is once again full of promise. A hearfelt thank you from everyone at Orbis for your support.