About the Project

About the Project

Established by two Turkish NGOs (IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation and Solidarity Foundation), Africa Cataract Project aims to cure 100.000 underprivileged cataract patients in Africa. Since started in April 2007, the project has been giving support to fighting against preventable blindness in the continent. Africa Cataract Project focuses ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Sudan, Somalia, Ethopia, Chad, Mali, Gana, Togo, Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso) where six million people suffer due to blindness. With slogan “If you see them, they will see the world”, a campaign is run in Turkey to finance all surgeries performed under the project. The cost of drug distributions and surgeries are all supported by Turkish nation and Turkish organizations. All activities in the project are totally free of charge. It is possible to follow updated news about the project and to see live surgery through websites http://www.ihh.org.tr/ and http://www.afrikagorecek.com/

• Related Links
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Cataract_Project
• http://eye.taragana.net/archive/physicians-of-turkey-helped-10000-africans-to-gain-their-visibility/
• http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=33751
• http://www.togetherforsudan.com/partnerships.htm
• http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MYAI-7NE8ZR?OpenDocument

South Sudan - WAU

South Sudan Free Eye Camp (January 2009)

Free eye surgery campaign was recently organized by Africa Cataract Project in South Sudan for people who cannot afford hospital fees. The eye camp was held in collaboration with Western Bahr El-Gazal Ministry of Health. A medical team of 10 consisted of three surgeons, three nurses, an anesthesia technician and volunteers. During the campaign, 438 patients had surgery conducting removal of the cataract from the eye. The cost of all operations funded totally by Africa Cataract Project.

All surgeries took place in Wau Teaching Hospital from 17 to 27 January. More than 1.200 eye patients received access to free eye checks and treatment during the clinical exemination. It was observed that people traveled to Wau Teaching Hospital from remote towns of the state for treatment.

• Related Links
• http://www.mirayafm.org/news/news/_200901175997/
• http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MYAI-7NE8ZR?OpenDocument