In Ethiopia, an estimated 1.6 million people are blind.
Through partnerships with local hospitals, the Ministry of Health, and international organizations, Cure Blindness Project has completed over 780,000 sight-restoring surgeries, provided 6.3 million eye screenings, and trained hundreds of ophthalmic professionals.
Since our first in-country partnership in 2008, together with our partners, we have accomplished the following:
Partnerships in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, an estimated 1.6 million people are blind, many due to untreated cataracts.
Cure Blindness Project’s first partnership in Ethiopia developed in 2008 with Dr. Tilahun Kiros, head ophthalmologist of the Quiha Zonal Hospital in Mekelle, during cataract campaigns with the Millennium Villages Project and Quiha Zonal Hospital that provided 630 surgeries.
Our Milestones in Ethiopia
2008
Work begins with first partners in Ethiopia
2011
Cure Blindness Project partners with the Eye Bank of Ethiopia to help build in-country capacity to provide quality eye care
2013
Targeted skill transfer courses for corneal surgeons in Ethiopia started
2014
Signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to reduce the backlog of treatable blindness in Ethiopia by doubling the number of cataract surgeries performed in the country
2019
Establishes a country office with 13 full-time members
2020
Eye Bank of Ethiopia wins 2020 P3 Impact Award for its role in curing blindness
2021
Breaks ground on the Specialty Eye Center in Bahir Dar. The site is selected due to its proximity to the largest number of Ethiopians with the highest rate of blindness.
2022
Signs a second Memorandum of Understanding with MOH to integrate eye care into rural primary health care by providing training, capacity development and supplies to primary eye care units (PECUs) in rural areas of Oromia, South Western and Amhara. Cure Blindness Project hires one full time project manager with a specialty in policy and advocacy to be based in Addis.
2023
Cure Blindness Project is the first NGO to operate in Tigray after a multi-year armed conflict. A surgical outreach completes 1,570 sight-restoring surgeries.
Our Partners in Ethiopia
Today, Cure Blindness Project works with 19 implementing partners and a volunteer network of committed collaborators as well as a dedicated country office. Our 2023 acquisition of SightLife, International, an organization dedicated to addressing corneal disease, expands our reach and magnifies our impact further.
Addis Ababa Region
- Eye Bank of Ethiopia
- Menelik II Hospital
- MyungSung Christian Medical Center
- Sinskey Eye Clinic
- St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College
- WGGA Vision Specialized Eye Clinic
Amhara Region
- Amhara Regional Health Bureau
- Boru Meda Hospital
- Debre Berhan Referral Hospital
- Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital (Bahir Dar)
- University of Gondar Hospital
- Woldiya General Hospital
Oromia Region
- Abbas Philippos (Dembidollo Hospital)
- Adama Hospital
- Bisidimo General Hospital
- Goba Zonal Hospital/Madda Walabu University (Bale Robe)
- Jimma University Specialized Hospital
- Nekemte Hospital
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region
- Arba Minch General Hospital
- Eyu Ophthalmic Medium Clinic
- Hawassa Referral Hospital
- Hosanna Hospital (WEEMA)
- Wolaita Sodo University Teaching Referral Hospital
Tigray Region
- Aksum University Referral Hospital
- Quiha General Hospital and Tertiary Eye Care Center
National
- Federal Ministry of Health Ethiopia
