Since 2011, our organization has been conducting free cataract surgeries in impoverished and rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative brings together ophthalmologists, optometrists, and nurses from various countries, particularly Spain, who volunteer their expertise to reach underserved populations in slums and remote tribal communities. Collaborating with local medical and community service organizations ensures that the most vulnerable individuals receive critical care.
The program, conducted in partnership with the Spanish NGO Visió Sense Fronteres, began in Kenya and has since expanded to Cameroon, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and Zambia. To date, over 9,350 cataract surgeries have been performed, and more than 36,850 pairs of eyeglasses have been distributed.
Eye conditions in these regions are disproportionately common due to factors such as dietary deficiencies, intense UV exposure near the equator, poor sanitation exacerbated by drought, and a severe shortage of eye care professionals. Patients range from infants to the elderly, highlighting the widespread need for vision care across all age groups.
This initiative not only restores sight but also transforms lives, enabling individuals to regain independence and participate fully in their communities.
The process of providing cataract surgeries to underserved communities begins weeks before the surgical camps. Local nurses, healthcare workers, and volunteer organizations conduct outreach in slums and remote tribal areas to identify patients and raise awareness. They evaluate individuals in need and arrange a central location for the surgeries, such as a hospital, dispensary, or community center.
When the ophthalmologists and optometrists arrive, they dedicate one to two weeks to screening patients and performing surgeries. Working long days of 12 to 14 hours, their goal is to restore vision for as many individuals as possible. In many cases, they collaborate with local doctors and nurses, contributing to the development of sustainable healthcare infrastructure in these communities.
Even after the camps commence, new patients continue to arrive through ongoing outreach and word-of-mouth. Many surgical candidates are deeply grateful for the opportunity, as they would otherwise be unable to afford these transformative procedures. Most patients have extremely limited vision, ranging from light perception to finger-counting, and many have been blind for years. This often makes surgeries highly complex, but the outcomes profoundly improve patients’ lives.
Coming from economically and politically unstable regions, these individuals experience life-changing benefits, regaining independence and the ability to engage with their communities.
Post-surgery care is equally important. Local teams conduct follow-ups at one week and one month to monitor recovery. After three months, the medical teams return to assess patient progress. Success rates have been consistently high, with most patients achieving stable vision and some requiring glasses for additional correction. This comprehensive approach ensures sustainable and impactful care for the communities served.
Some numbers about recent interventions in 2022 and 2023:
Cataract Surgery in Nairobi
Dates: June 2 – 11, 2022
Location: MBagathi Hospital
Cataract Surgery in Makueni County
Dates: August 25 – September 3, 2023
Location: Makindo Sub-County Hospital
Project “Albinism – Low Vision in Mozambique 2023”
Location: Matola, Maputo District, Mozambique
Date: April 2023
Collaborators:
Gallery
Patient Follow-Up Campaign for December 2023 Surgeries in SAM SAM, Dakar
Location: SAM SAM, Dakar
IV Cataract Surgery Campaign in SAM SAM, Dakar
VI Refractive Error Detection Campaign in Senegal
Cataract Surgery Follow-Ups in Senegal
First Cataract Surgery Campaign – Sierra Leone (April 2022)
Dates: April 7 – 17, 2022
Location: New Don Bosco Fambul Hospital
International Cooperation Project – Cataract Surgery (December 2022)
Dates: November 29 – December 10, 2022
Location: New Don Bosco Fambul Hospital
Cataract Surgery Campaign – Sierra Leone (March–April 2023)
Dates: March 28 – April 9, 2023
Location: New Don Bosco Fambul Hospital
Cataract Surgery Campaign – Sierra Leone (December 2023)
Dates: November 19 – December 2, 2023
Location: New Don Bosco Fambul Hospital
In October 2024, our efforts expanded to Samburu County, Kenya, with a focused intervention aimed at strengthening community eye health. We trained 27 healthcare volunteers in eye care practices, equipping them to serve as vital resources for their communities. Each volunteer is responsible for supporting approximately 100 households, with each household comprising 10 to 15 family members.
During this intervention, 263 impoverished individuals received life-changing eye surgeries. The initiative was particularly groundbreaking as it included Samburu County’s first pediatric eye surgeries. Six children had cataracts successfully removed, bringing immense joy and hope to their families and the broader community.
The Samburu Tribe, predominantly semi-nomadic pastoralists, faces increasing challenges due to climate change. Prolonged droughts have devastated livestock herds, the tribe’s primary source of livelihood, plunging many families into deeper economic hardship. By restoring sight, this program has not only transformed individual lives but also offered a lifeline of resilience to a community grappling with severe environmental and economic pressures.
This intervention exemplifies the power of community-led healthcare and its capacity to address critical needs in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
