{"id":2784,"date":"2013-08-01T13:31:21","date_gmt":"2013-08-01T20:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.medicaleyecenter.com\/?p=2784"},"modified":"2013-08-01T13:31:21","modified_gmt":"2013-08-01T20:31:21","slug":"restoring-sight-my-work-with-the-himalayan-cataract-project-in-ethiopia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.medicaleyecenter.com\/2013\/08\/01\/restoring-sight-my-work-with-the-himalayan-cataract-project-in-ethiopia\/","title":{"rendered":"Restoring Sight: My Work with the Himalayan Cataract Project in Ethiopia"},"content":{"rendered":"
by Dr. Matt Oliva<\/p>\n
Blindness exerts an incredible toll in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, in terms of both human suffering and adverse economic impact. Due to environmental conditions, malnutrition and vitamin deficiency, ocular infections, trauma and lack of access to care, some of the world\u2019s highest rates of blindness exist in this arid and mountainous area, with a 1.5% estimated prevalence rate. The majority of this blindness is caused by cataract and corneal opacification, both of which are treatable conditions, often for as little as $20 per surgery.<\/p>\n
The Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP) is working to eradicate preventable and treatable blindness in the developing world. Beginning in 2007, in partnership with the Millennium Cities Initiative, we joined forces with the Quiha Zonal Hospital in Mekelle, Ethiopia, and the Tigray Regional Health Bureau to dramatically expand access to high volume, high quality, modern cataract and corneal surgery in northern Ethiopia.<\/p>\n