ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia, located in the Horn of Africa, shares borders with Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Kenya. With a population of over 125 million, roughly 5.4% of its population lives with some form of visual impairment. The country is renowned for its diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and ancient history, boasting the most World Heritage Sites in a nation. However, Ethiopia also faces the public health challenge of high prevalence of blindness.
BLINDNESS IN ETHIOPIA
- A small-scale 2022 survey showed that around 120 in 10,000 are blind
- Over 80% of these cases of blindness are curable
- An estimated 1.8 million Ethiopians suffer needlessly from cataracts
THE TEJ KOHLI & RUIT FOUNDATION IN ETHIOPIA
The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation aims to provide greater access to cataract surgery and improve the quality of life for individuals who suffer from this condition through the implementation of microsurgical outreach camps.
Ethiopia marks the fourth country that the foundation will visit since its commencement in March 2021.
The foundation’s objective is to cure 12,000 individuals of cataract blindness by 2023. By implementing these camps, the foundation hopes to decrease the burden of blindness in the nation and positively impact the affected population. The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation prioritises providing necessary medical attention to those in need and enhancing accessibility to medical care.
