February Newsletter Highlights
Restoring Sight in Central Ethiopia
The Himalayan Cataract Project works with more than a dozen hospitals and eye centers throughout Ethiopia. In February, we concentrated our efforts in the city of Debre Birhan, supporting a high-volume cataract campaign that provided 284 surgeries.
Among the hundreds who were seeking to have their sight restored in Debre Birhan was 62-year-old Kes Girma Haile. He was brought to the campaign by his 18-year-old daughter, Kirsae, in the hopes he would regain his sight and return to farming. As a result of his vision loss, Kes has not been able to work and the family does not have enough food. With a successful surgery, Kes is able to return to the field and provide for his family.
HCP and KATH Continue to Bring Miracle of Sight to Needlessly Blind Ghanaians
HCP has been working with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana to enhance cataract surgical services both at the hospital and in outreach settings.
Earlier this month, a team from KATH managed a cataract outreach event in Goasa, an underserved region about three hours northwest of Kumasi. Over the course of five days, 221 surgeries were provided and the enthusiasm was palpable.
HCP’s Deputy Director of Programs Pamela Clapp took part in the event and was touched by the energy of the patients and the gratitude they expressed during post-operation examinations.
"After their surgeries, many patients sought out nurses on the screening team to thank them for their encouragement to come to the outreach," said Clapp. "As you can imagine, many were reluctant or scared to come for surgery, so after their transformation they were anxious to share their gratitude.”
The KATH team continues to expand the number of surgeries each year, and we are proud to support their efforts. Learn more about our work with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Donor Spotlight: Ski Rack of Burlington & UVM Outing Club
We are extremely grateful to those who join us in the fight against global blindness. Ski Rack of Burlington and the University of Vermont Outing Club stepped up in a fun and creative way to raise money for HCP during the Banff Film Festival event in Burlington. The team held a raffle that raised $2,700 to help HCP eradicate blindness in the developing world.
Have a great fundraising idea? Let us know: [email protected]
