School students screened in Afghanistan

“Fred Hollows believed that the toughest places in world to work are usually the places with the greatest need,” The Foundation’s CEO Brian Doolan said.

Out of a total of 530 children screened, 22 were provided with glasses and five children were referred for cataract surgery. A further two students will undergo further examination and treatment.

The Fred Hollows Foundation began work in Afghanistan in 2006, contributing to a five year national plan for comprehensive eye care put in place and coordinated by the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health.

“The success of this program shows us that even in a country as war-torn as Afghanistan, practical measures can be taken to develop medical infrastructure and improve the lives of those who are disadvantaged by avoidable blindness,” said Doolan.

The Foundation works with local partners at district and community level in Nangarhar Province to serve an estimated population of over one million people. The program focuses on human resource development, ensuring local medical workers are trained to service the high demand for eye health services as well as to ensure sustainability of service delivery within the country.

In 2008 The Foundation also took on a major upgrade of the eye unit at Nangarhar Public Health Hospital including the installation of essential equipment, supply of medicines and the initiation of registration and reporting systems.