Blindness
The Problem
Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of blind people per capita of any country in the world. 80% of this blindness is either preventable or treatable. Ethiopians do not have seeing-eye dogs. Instead, you will see small children slowly, quietly, and faithfully leading a blind person through the streets. These children have no opportunity to receive an education or even play with their friends.
A $50(USD) cataract surgery, which takes less than ten minutes to preform, can restore vision to a blind person. However, lack of access to healthcare and extreme poverty make this basic surgery unaffordable to many.
How We Help
THAF provides the funding and equipment needed to perform high volume cataract surgery and restore vision to those who can not afford medical care. This simple procedure results in the liberation of an indentured child who can then return to school, play with their friends, and live a normal happy life. In addition, the blind person can return to an independent and productive life. This lifts a huge economic burden from the family. We also treat many other eye diseases as well as provide simple reading glasses for those with poor vision.
Key Stats on Blindness in Ethiopia
~1.6% of Ethiopians are blind.
80% of those cases are treatable or preventable.
It only costs $50 to sponsor a cataract surgery.
A single surgery can lift an entire family out of poverty.
How You Can Help
THAF needs continued funding to be able to sponsor cataract surgeries in Ethiopia.
These life-changing surgeries only cost $50 each and have a tremendous impact on the lives of each and every patient.
As with all THAF programs, 100% of your donation will go to helping the poor, not towards overhead.
To date we’ve sponsored over 20,000 cataract surgeries and counting!
Witness your Donations in Action
Meet Dr. Samuel Bora, the only ophthalmologist for 3 million people in The End of Blindness, an award winning documentary from AJ Martinson and Dr. Larry Thomas.
Sponsored by THAF, Dr. Samuel’s mission is to end treatable blindness in his country.
See the powerful impact your donations have had on the lives of thousands of Ethiopians as you journey with Dr. Samuel from Addis Ababa to the heart of the Ethiopian countryside as he performs up to 60 cataract surgeries a day for the blind poor in desperate need of sight.
Available now on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play and on DVD!
Witness More Incredible Stories
“I’ve completed over 20,000 surgeries, and Bontu’s case is the most satisfying case I’ve ever had.”
-Dr. Samuel Bora
Update: THAF Completes 20,000 Cataract Surgeries by 2020
As part of the Visually Impaired Persons Program, THAF set an enormous goal to complete 20,000 cataract surgeries by the year 2020.
Thanks to the hard work of Dr. Samuel and his mobile cataract team, THAF exceeded their goal by nearly 4,000 surgeries.
But the fight isn’t over, and THAF is committed to continuing their work to end treatable and preventable blindness in Ethiopia for the thousands more who are unable to see.
