Health conditions in Rwanda are dire, but the country is committed to improving the situation. This commitment is starting to pay off, with life expectancy increasing from 39 years to 50 years over the past decade. However, the infant mortality rate is 118 per 1,000 births, and 33 percent of the population is undernourished.

Eye health also remains critical, with the findings of a 2006 survey showing 82 percent of all cases of bilateral blindness was treatable or preventable, with cataract being responsible for 66.7 percent of all bilateral blindness. Outcomes after cataract surgery were relatively poor due to uncorrected refractive error, surgery-related complications or a concurrent cause of blindness.

Since then, The Foundation has developed a sustained commitment to the region - to provide eye health services in remote areas of the country, training for eye health workers, and eye health screening and eye unit renovations.

We've made progress. We're building partnerships and capacity. But we need the continued support of our contributors if we are going to realise Fred Hollow's vision of ending avoidable blindness in the countries where we work by 2020.

Find out more about the Rwanda program.

Through our program work in Rwanda, The Foundation:

• Screened 15,220 people

• Performed 407 cataract surgeries at The Foundation-supported Gisenyi Eye Unit
  
  
• Provided primary eye care training for 128 staff in the Western Province
  
  
• Opened new optical workshop at Gisenyi Eye Unit
  
  
• Supported the construction of an eye unit at Muhororo Hospital, Ngororero District.