An eye examination for an elderly refugee in Ethiopia

Looking to the future with hope

Eye examinations for elderly refugees in Ethiopia

"When the war broke out, I fled to Ethiopia with my wife, children and grandchildren," says 76-year-old Khor from South Sudan. He is one of millions of people who were forced to leave their homeland because of the war. The fact that he survived the flight at his advanced age is due to his indomitable will to give his family a better and, above all, safer future. In the Gambella refugee camp, his eyesight got worse and worse and here, too, all his thoughts were with his family. "When I went blind, I was devastated because I could no longer look after my family. The doctors gave me my eyesight back. I never thought that would be possible! Now I can be there for my family again," says Khor.

need

Eye treatments for elderly refugees in Ethiopia.

activity

Free eye examinations and, depending on the diagnosis, treatment in the form of eye drops, glasses or cataract surgery.

Measurable performance

Number of refugees who received an eye examination and follow-up treatment.

Result

Examinations enable an accurate diagnosis and further treatment to improve vision.

Systemically relevant impact

Improving health and quality of life for older refugees.

background

Since the unrest in 2011, South Sudan has not been at peace. Persistent violence, extreme drought and increasing food shortages are forcing many to flee to neighboring Ethiopia. According to the UNHCR, more than 880,000 refugees live in Ethiopia - more than half of them are from South Sudan. The living conditions in the Gambella camps are particularly challenging for older people.

In addition to chronic diseases, the most common age-related health problems among refugees include reduced vision and eye diseases (Strong et al., 2015). Over a third of all respondents in the camp frequently stumble or fall because they cannot see an obstacle. Almost a quarter of all respondents cannot recognize the drawings on a banknote.
Older people often put their own needs behind those of their (younger) family members. For this reason, and also because there is not enough knowledge about treatment options, they quietly accept it when their eyesight deteriorates or they even go blind. However, reduced eyesight significantly limits the options available to older people. Visual impairments also have a negative impact on self-confidence and self-esteem and can lead to loneliness within the camps.

The good deed

The good deed is explicitly aimed at older people - a target group that is less represented in many projects than other target groups. Among the refugees in Ethiopia there are around 45,000 older women and men. Most of them have never received eye treatment in their lives. The donation will enable older refugees in Ethiopia to receive a free eye examination and, depending on the diagnosis, subsequent treatment - be it with eye drops, glasses with the correct prescription or even cataract operations. The improved or regained vision strengthens independence and increases the quality of life.

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