Bringing Vision to Africa: The Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology

16th July 2024 By The Global Heroes Health

The Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO), founded in 2001, is dedicated to eradicating avoidable blindness across Africa. With a vision of accessible, high-quality, patient-centered eye care for all Africans, KCCO integrates clinical ophthalmology, public health principles, and applied research to improve eye health, especially in underserved rural and low-income communities.

Transformative Eye Care: Sarah’s Journey

Globally, about 1.4 million children are blind, with many more experiencing visual impairment. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces a particularly high burden, with childhood cataracts being a significant, yet treatable, cause of blindness. KCCO’s research highlights a gender disparity, showing that girls often receive eye care services later and less frequently than boys. Early detection and treatment of eye conditions are crucial, but many children with SSA remain undiagnosed for years.

KCCO’s childhood blindness programs prioritize early detection and treatment of cataracts in children. They train community volunteers and primary care staff as "cataract case finders" who identify and refer suspected cases to specialized pediatric eye care facilities. Additionally, KCCO conducts community-level screening camps when funding permits.

Sarah, a young girl from Uganda, exemplifies the impact of KCCO’s efforts. Diagnosed with congenital bilateral cataracts, Sarah’s parents noticed vision problems and white spots in her eyes shortly after birth but were unaware of the condition. A primary care worker’s referral led Sarah to the Benedictine Eye Hospital in Tororo, where she underwent cataract surgery at the age of three. The surgery restored her sight, enabling her to engage in everyday activities and play with her friends.

“We are happy because our girl can now see,” Sarah’s mother expressed, highlighting the profound impact of KCCO’s work.

Despite such success stories, many children remain undiagnosed due to limited resources for training and outreach, underscoring the need for expanded support. KCCO strives to remove barriers to cataract treatment. When donor funding is available, surgeries are performed at no cost to families, and transportation expenses for follow-up visits are covered. Follow-up care is essential, as children often need glasses and further management, especially if operated on later.

Proper treatment and follow-up enable many children to achieve excellent vision and integrate into regular schools by age five. Sarah’s follow-up care, including glasses, was supported by grants from USAID and the Seva Foundation.

“On behalf of Benedictine Eye Hospital, parents, and children served by our childhood blindness program, I sincerely thank KCCO for enabling us to deliver eye care to our community’s most vulnerable,” said Dr. Proscovia Arach, a pediatric ophthalmologist.

KCCO’s Comprehensive Approach

KCCO leads comprehensive childhood blindness initiatives in Africa. The organization has produced manuals on preventing and managing childhood blindness in developing countries, available at kcco.net. Supported by various organizations, KCCO implements strategies to:

· Identify and refer children who need help early

· Support families before and after cataract surgery

· Ensure girls receive the same services and opportunities as boys

· Strengthen local hospitals

KCCO currently supports pediatric eye care programs in Burundi, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. However, many areas remain underserved due to funding limitations. KCCO continues to work towards expanding their services to provide essential eye care to more children in need.

Through KCCO’s transformative eye care, every child has the opportunity to see a brighter future.