Limited access to eye care continues to leave millions of people at risk of preventable sight loss, with children in underserved communities particularly vulnerable to undiagnosed and untreated vision problems.
Light for the World, an international nonprofit organisation working on eye health and disability rights, has committed US$15 million to expand access to inclusive eye care in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda by 2030.
The investment aims to reach more than 3.5 million people through screening, treatment, workforce training and stronger national eye health systems. Targets include screening at least one million children, supporting 100,000 cataract surgeries and providing more than 10,000 pairs of corrective glasses.
“Eye health is not just about sight; it is about unlocking human potential, transforming lives, advancing education, enabling independence and ensuring that no one is left behind,” said Biruktayit Kefyalew, Eye Health Expert at Light for the World.
The organisation will also train more than 5,000 eye care practitioners and frontline health workers, while expanding efforts to address blinding trachoma.
The commitment builds on its 1, 2, 3 I Can See! programme, which works with ministries of health and education to identify children with vision problems through school-based screening.
Between 2021 and the end of 2025, the programme trained 4,372 teachers and education workers, who pre-screened more than 1.1 million children. It also distributed 13,068 pairs of glasses to children, while 351,656 children received hospital eye consultations.
The organisation also plans to strengthen women’s participation in eye health and invest in specialist infrastructure, including a tertiary eye care and training centre in Mozambique.
The commitment was announced during the first Global Summit for Eye Health, held on November 2, 2026, in Antigua and Barbuda, bringing together governments, NGOs and development partners to advance global action on avoidable sight loss.
“Clear vision is a fundamental right that unlocks every child’s full potential,” said Marion Lieser, the organisation’s CEO, calling for political commitments to translate into lasting investments in eye care.
Help us tell more untold stories of African Philanthropy!
To DONATE or Pledge: CLICK HERE
