One of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world is happening in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On September 5, 2002, the peace and quiet of rural Nyankunde, DR Congo, a village of about 17,000 in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, was shattered when as many as 5,000 Wangiti tribesmen attacked. It is estimated that within an hour they killed between 1500 and 2000 people. Those who survived the attack fled. The attackers systematically looted every building in the medical complex and village.
They stand near small tea shops or walk aimlessly around the streets of Tenkari, India. They eat when someone gives them food and wear whatever old clothes are given to them. They sleep on other people’s verandahs or in old ruined buildings with no mats to lie on, no pillows for their heads, and no blankets to cover them on cold nights. They have no place to wash.
March 2008
Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of preventable blindness in the world.
We can make a significant, cost-effective difference.
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE MISSION
operates eye hospitals in five Afghanistan locations. Each year they see over 250,000 patients, and perform over 15,000 sight-saving surgeries. Their hospital in Kabul, run in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher Education, is the University Eye Hospital and is the main training and referral hospital for eye care in Afghanistan. Their staff at UEH sees over 40,000 patients and performs over 4,000 sight-saving surgeries annually.
SLIT LAMP EXAMS ARE DONE:
As part of routine eye examinations with other procedures to evaluate the eye, such as an ophthalmoscope, vision testing, or tonometry (measuring pressure).
To look at structures in the back of the eye, such as the optic nerve or retina.
To detect disorders in the front of the eye, such as infection or injury to the cornea, cataracts, conjunctivitis or iritis.
To help detect and monitor glaucoma or macular degeneration.
To check for a foreign body, such as a metal fragment, on or in the eye.
To detect eye problems caused by diseases, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
To monitor complications such as bleeding after an eye injury.
How your contribution can provide eye surgery to children and adults where the preventable blindness rate is the highest in the world.
Afghanistan has been torn by war and civil unrest for over thirty years, and although there have been significant improvements since 2001, it remains one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. What little infrastructure the country possessed has mostly been destroyed and will take years to rebuild.
