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Leading the Fight Against Avoidable Blindness in Africa
Sarah at age six © Courtesy of Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology
Leading the Fight Against Avoidable Blindness in Africa
The Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology (KCCO) is on a mission to eliminate avoidable blindness in Africa.
Established in 2001, this unique organization envisions a future where all Africans can access high-quality, patient-centered eye care provided by Africans in well-functioning systems.
KCCO combines clinical ophthalmology with public health principles and applied research to tackle the burden of visual impairment and enhance overall eye health in underserved populations, particularly in rural and low-income areas where they are needed most.
Eye Care Transforms Lives: Sarah’s Story
Globally, an estimated 1.4 million children are blind, with many more suffering from visual impairment. The burden is exceptionally high in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where childhood cataract is a significant but treatable cause of blindness. KCCO research has also shown that there is a gender gap, with girls receiving services at a later age than boys and receiving less follow-up than boys. Early identification and treatment are crucial, yet many children in SSA remain undiagnosed for years.
KCCO’s childhood blindness programs focus on detecting and treating cataracts in children as early as possible. Early surgery significantly improves visual outcomes for congenital cataracts. To facilitate early detection, KCCO trains community volunteers and primary care staff as “cataract case finders” who refer suspected cases to specialized pediatric eye care facilities. Outreach screening camps are also conducted at the community level when dedicated funding is available.
Sarah, a young girl from Uganda, is an example of how transformative KCCO’s work can be. Diagnosed with congenital bilateral cataracts, Sarah’s parents noticed issues with her sight and white spots in her eyes shortly after birth. They were unaware that Sarah had cataracts.
Thanks to a primary care worker’s referral, Sarah underwent cataract surgery at the age of three at the Benedictine Eye Hospital in Tororo. The surgery restored Sarah’s sight, allowing her to perform everyday tasks and play with her friends without difficulty.
“As a family, we are happy because our girl can now see,” said Sarah’s mother.
With the help of KCCO, Sarah received specialized care and her sight was saved.
However, many children remain undiagnosed due to insufficient resources for training and outreach, demonstrating the need for expanded support. KCCO works diligently to remove the 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 critical, as children often need glasses and further management, especially if operated on at a later age.
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 the provision of 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 Approach
KCCO is a leader in implementing comprehensive childhood blindness activities in Africa. The organization has produced manuals on preventing and managing childhood blindness in developing countries, with more information available at kcco.net. With support from 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. Due to a lack of funding, many areas remain underserved, and KCCO is working to expand their services further, providing eye care to children in need.
With transformative eye care from KCCO, every child has the chance to see a brighter future.
