In recent years, Barcelona has been the cradle of a visionary project that has changed the lives of more than one million people in Africa. The Eyes of the World Foundation has challenged preventable or avoidable blindness in countries such as Mozambique, Mali and in Sahrawi camps in Algeria, tackling this crucial health problem with a comprehensive and sustainable approach.
The Eyes of the World project was born in Barcelona in 2001 with the clear purpose of addressing preventable or avoidable blindness in various regions of Africa.
The initiative materialized through the creation of the foundation of the same name, which since then has made constant efforts to provide visual solutions to underprivileged communities.
Eyes of the World and its commitment to stay in the field
What makes Eyes of the World unique is its long-term approach. In the words of Anna Barba, director of the foundation, “we have local teams working and living there 365 days a year”.
This commitment involves more than performing operations and returning; it involves staying on the ground, training local stakeholders and comprehensively addressing eye health. More than two decades later, they have trained more than 14,800 professionals and served more than one million people.
Another important feature of the project is its focus on prevention and early detection. Many people in these communities were unaware that they had treatable eye diseases, such as cataracts.
Anna Barba clarifies: “Many people were not aware that they had cataracts, nor were they aware that this disease can be treated by surgery”.
Mobile Optics to get you where you need to go
In 2022, Eyes of the World took a revolutionary step by implementing mobile optics. This initiative consists of an equipped van that travels the roads of the Inhambane province in Mozambique, providing eye care directly from the vehicle.
Since its implementation, it has served more than 3,500 people and distributed more than 180 eyeglasses, bringing visual solutions to places where medical attention is limited.
Despite significant achievements, Eyes of the World faces significant challenges. Access to glasses remains a problem for many people, and logistical constraints mean that some surgeries are not possible in the van. To overcome these challenges, the foundation seeks local self-sufficiency and empowerment.
With more than two decades of dedication, Eyes of the World is not satisfied with its current successes and therefore, is not limited only to vision problems. The entity addresses eye pathologies linked to water pollution, such as trachoma.
In this regard, they support the construction and rehabilitation of public toilets and wells in Mali, offering a comprehensive look at eye health and the general well-being of communities.
