Supported projects
SVĚTLO PRO SVĚT currently supports projects in three developing countries in Africa (Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burkina Faso). Support is provided through local partners, and is aimed primarily at eye clinics that provide high-quality and sustained eye care. Projects are thus aimed primarily at blindness prevention and treatment.
The top three causes of blindness in developing countries are cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration!
Cataract can be removed with relatively simple surgery lasting about 20 minutes. The opaque lens is removed from the eye and is replaced by an artificial lens. Vision is usually completely restored immediately after the surgery.
Trachoma is an infectious disease, during which the eyelid turns inward and the lashes scratch the cornea. This disease can be prevented by prophylactic antibiotics. In advanced stages, surgery alleviate pain, but sight can longer be restored.
Worldwide visual impairment figures:
- there are approximately 1 billion people with disabilities in the world,
- 285 million of them are visually impaired,
- 39 million people are blind,
- 90 % of the world`s visually impaired people live in developing countries,
- 80 % of all visual impairment can be prevented, treated or cured.
Most of these people have no access to basic medical care and elementary education.
In the past five years of our existence and cooperation with our confederation partners we have achieved:
- 372 422 screenings,
- 35 414 surgeries,
- 16 721 have been sight-saving cataract surgeries.
- 4 536 279 people have been provided with medicine to prevent trachoma and river blindness.
- 2 360 disabled children have been rehabilitated in North Gondar, Ethiopia.
- 350 children as well as 387 teachers have been trained in sign language in Addis, Abeba to promote inclusive education.
- 38 224 pages have been converted to Braille.
- 427 037 pages have been produced to serve blind children and students.
