Setting up a model for African eye care in Cameroon

Existing eye care services in Douala are unaffordable for most of the population.

About the project

Cataracts is the leading cause of blindness in Douala, Cameroon.

It causes 50% of blindness in the country, yet it costs just US$30 for a simple 15 minute operation which can restore a person's sight.

With a population of 2 million Douala is the most populated city in Cameroon and is growing fast. There are 20,000 blind people and 60,000 people who suffer low vision in the city.

Leading by example

This project aims to create a model hospital which can be replicated in other major cities across Africa to provide affordable eye care to those in need. By tacking avoidable blindness we hope to give people back their independence and ability to support their family. 

Our partners, Right to Sight and Acha, will provide affordable eye care services by work to create a new eye care hospital in Douala that will link in with existing providers to tackle the backlog of blindness and low vision patients.

By 2013 we aim to:

  • Establish 3 vision centres in targeted urban areas
  • Conducted 7,900 cataract operations and 1,450 other operations
  • Screened 75,000 people
  • Screened 5,000 children
  • Performed 24,000 refractions
  • Dispensed 14,000 spectacles
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“We aim to develop a model for eye care in Africa to significantly improving the quality of life of the reversibly blind and those at risk of blindness. ”
Seeing is Believing, 2010
PERIOD
2010 -2013
PARTNER
Right to Sight, Acha