Eye problems, like many other health issues in Somalia, often go untreated. Common conditions such as cataracts all too often lead to blindness if left untreated.

Losing one’s sight – which often leads to losing one’s livelihood – can be devastating, especially in a country affected by conflict and poverty. That is why this relatively simple surgery can have a huge impact on patients’ lives, improving their chances of living a dignified and healthy life.

Avoidable blindness is a major health problem in Somalia, with cataracts being the top cause of reversible blindness in the country. An estimated 1.2% of Somalia’s population – more than 100,000 people – are blind.

In Somalia, health indicators are among the lowest in the world and its overstretched health service prioritises lifesaving care. Specialist eye care services are almost non-existent in some regions of Somalia, and the country’s few trained ophthalmologists are mostly based in large cities.

Many people from marginalised and displaced communities simply cannot afford the cost of travelling so far or of paying for treatment when they get there.

Our team has been supporting the local ministry of Health in conducting eye camps in and around Jubaland area. Working with Ministry of Health staff, we collaborate with doctors from ‘Save the Vision’, a Somalia-based ophthalmic organisation, who treat and build the capacity of the district’s nurses, doctors and clinicians to screen people for eye problems, provide care and refer them for specialist treatment when needed.

Since 2019, we jointly offered free primary and secondary eye care services including screening, surgery, treatment, health education and counselling, reaching thousands of people.

In two months (Nov 2020 to Jan 2021) MSF’s team in Jubaland supported two eye camps, in Kismayu and Bardheera, where 604 patients underwent cataract surgery and had their sight restored; 2,430 people received treatment for mild to moderate eye ailments; and 1,306 people received reading glasses to enhance their vision or sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays.

Community mobilisation is done through local radio stations and TV for a two-week period, alongside the registration and screening of patients. Treatment and surgeries are done within the following two weeks. The procedure to operate on a patient for a cataract usually takes around 30 minutes and we engage three surgeons so that as many as 20-25 patients can be operated on in a single day.