Trachoma, an excruciatingly painful disease and one of the world’s leading causes of unnecessary blindness, used to be widespread in this area. Trachoma is caused by bacterial infection and spreads easily through contact with eye discharge from infected people on hands, towels and clothing and through direct transmission by flies.

Fortunately, Operation Eyesight launched a highly successful trachoma control project in Narok in 2007, based on the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy. The project included drilling a borehole 270 metres deep to bring clean fresh water to this parched community.

Used not only for drinking, washing faces and preventing trachoma, the water has also had another significant community benefit: it has more than doubled the local student population.

Before the borehole became operational, most girls were unable to attend classes because they had to walk many kilometers each day to fetch water for their families. When we visited Ongata Boarding Primary School, for instance, I was told that in 2006, there were only 270 students, 100 of whom were girls.

Since the centrally-positioned borehole has made long treks for water unnecessary, the school now has an enrolment of 690 students, 300 of whom are girls. The head teacher told me they expect to grow to 1,400 students within the next two years.

While at the school, we were treated to a presentation of the following poem, written in honour of Operation Eyesight by teacher Susan Maranta.

Recited in English by a class of girls, probably between 12 and 14 years old, the poem illustrates the importance of Operation Eyesight’s investment in this community, and its ongoing commitment to addressing the root causes of poverty and blindness.

As you’ll see, the last verse asks for financial support for other community needs. Operation Eyesight works to build the community’s capacity and independence by helping them identify other sources for funding, including community grants available from the government, other NGOs who support education or even their own financial resources through the sale of cattle.

Canaan

This is the day,
The day has come for us to rejoice.
The day of joy and happiness,
The day of expressing our gratitude.
The day is today.

Take me to Canaan,
Mama! Take me to Canaan.
Canaan full of honey and milk
Canaan is where I belong to
Ongata is Canaan.
Papa! Take me to Ongata.

Ongata has become a Canaan
Canaan of books and conducive environment,
Canaan of our nice driver Mr. Naikuni
Canaan of academics by our capable teachers
Canaan of support from our parents
Support from all other well wishers
And above all, our very able water donors.

Our water donors, thank you for giving our school water,
Our donors, thank you for your strong support
Our very able water donors, we still request for more,
Our boys need a dormitory,
We need more water pumped to our dormitory yard kitchen.
We know you can, our donors
We promise to work hard
Never to let your effort down.
Thank you.

Read more about Narok in my earlier blog post, “Water is life in Narok.”

The post A Poetic Tribute appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

For instance, in North American hospitals, the operating rooms have one door for everything and everyone that comes and goes – limited access is key to sanitation.

One distinctly Indian innovation is to include another door in the operating room – a smaller, stainless steel door with a double barrier that leads to a service corridor. It is through this door that all the supplies, instruments and linens pass through (like a dumb waiter) which reduces the number of people who have to enter the room. Only medical personnel use the main door. Ingenious!

I came to India knowing that most Indians are very hard working, industrious people. What I had not experienced was their ongoing ability to reflect on their lives, their actions and how that impacts them, their families and their immediate life path. Through these reflections they see promise and potential, and they know that it may take a bit of time and a lot of work before they see success.

This resonates well with the way that Operation Eyesight understands sustainability and quality outcomes. Our leaders, past and present, see the potential that exists in India and Africa. We remain hopeful and forward-thinking in the way we work, while striving to listen carefully to our partners and adopting their vision for their own people.

In India, we work to build the capacity of our partners to craft Indian solutions, not North American solutions that may or may not work. This is the nature of true partnership – value the invaluable assets that the Indian people bring to the table.

One last story… on the walls throughout Little Flower Hospital are metal plaques with the names of organizations that have donated rooms or equipment. Some of the plaques look new and some look old and worn – especially the ones that commemorate a gift from Operation Eyesight.

Father Sebastian, Little Flower’s director and chief administrator, says the plaques that look old aren’t necessarily old. They look that way because people touch them. He says patients recognize Operation Eyesight, and they touch the plaques and perhaps say a word of thanks.

That is evidence of relationship. That’s partnership.

The post India has much to teach us – Part 2 appeared first on Operation Eyesight.