Photo courtesy of Sandy Scheltema/The Age

Blindness and Development Issues

Ninety percent of the world's blind people live in developing countries, unable to access or afford eye health care. For them, blindness brings an inescapable cycle of disability and extreme poverty, This cycle of disability and poverty is often harder to escape for women and children.

Children and Blindness

A blind child in a developing country face a lifetime of hardship. Of the children that lose their sight, more than half will die within a few years of going blind. Sighted children of blind parents or relatives are also destined to a life of extreme poverty.

Disability and Development

The Foundation is committed to both preventing the impact of disability and to ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to our program activities regardless of their individual life situation or surrounding environment.

Gender and Blindness

Throughout the world, research has shown that gender equality is crucial to economic development and poverty reduction in developing countries.

Poverty and Blindness

Blindness is both a cause and consequence of poverty. With simple intervention, many people can have their sight, productivity and livelihoods restored.

Blindness and the Millennium Development Goals

3 out of 4 people who are blind don't have to be. Access to quality eye health care can make a significant contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

© 2010 The Fred Hollows Foundation ABN 46 070 556 642. All rights reserved. The Fred Hollows Foundation is a Public Benevolent Institution and operates two funds which have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status with the Australian Tax Office.