As in our Kenyan projects, we’re also implementing the full SAFE strategy in our work in Zambia, with 2016 seeing great progress in these programs. We successfully drilled 22 boreholes in Sinazongwe, bringing our total number of boreholes in the district to 96. These boreholes serve as many as 48,000 people, or 40 percent of the district population. It’s amazing what one borehole can do!

In 2016, we concentrated our efforts in Mweenda, the largest ward in Sinazongwe district. Our goal is to declare Mweenda trachoma blindness-free by the end of 2017!

To establish each borehole program, we partnered with the Ministry of Health and local Water Affairs Department; identified a viable location; drilled the borehole; analyzed the water quality; monitored and evaluated the program; trained the village water committee; and educated the community on sanitation, eye health and general health.

We also trained and equipped 30 local villagers as pump minders, who repaired 15 dysfunctional boreholes originally drilled by other international NGOs. The pump minders now have the knowledge to maintain the boreholes in their communities, which will ensure our trachoma programs are sustainable.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health, we conducted our third Mass Drug Administration of antibiotics to treat and prevent the spread of trachoma infection. Distribution coverage of the antibiotic was 95 percent, and we reached many small islands in Lake Kariba, where children and adults received antibiotics for the first time.

Not only has implementation of the SAFE strategy helped prevent blindness, but it has also provided other important benefits. Improved sanitation has reduced other serious illnesses such as malaria, diarrheal diseases, upper respiratory infections and skin diseases.

By preventing the chronic recurrence of trachoma in children, and by eliminating the need for children to travel long distances to fetch household water before going to school, we’ve contributed to an increase in school attendance for both girls and boys. The presence of water close by has led to the construction of schools, encouraging teachers to accept postings at these schools!

Established water points have also reduced the number of human-animal conflicts. With a safe water source nearby, people are no longer at risk of crocodiles or other animal predators that may be lurking in rivers or lakes.

And finally, a reliable water source has given communities the ability to irrigate crops, grow vegetable gardens and raise healthier livestock, thus improving nutrition and providing a means to earn an income.

Not only are you helping restore sight, you’re helping improve quality of life for thousands!

We’re so grateful for everything people like you are making possible. Together we have changed millions of lives, and together we can change millions more! Please help us continue with our fight against avoidable blindness, and consider making a gift through our Gift Guide. No gift is too small! Together we can eliminate avoidable blindness – For All the World to See!

The post 2016 was an incredible year in Zambia – Thanks to you! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

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.