In a concerted effort to reduce avoidable blindness in West Africa, the Choithram International Foundation and Noor Dubai Foundation, a member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, have partnered with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health (MOH) to launch a comprehensive 3-year cataract outreach program. The initiative, supported by Choithram Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Freetown and guided by the clinical expertise of Choithram Netralaya Eye Hospital in India, aims to significantly cut the nation’s burden of preventable vision loss.
Addressing a National Health Challenge
According to the 2021 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) study, 5.4% of Sierra Leoneans aged 50 and above—more than 43,000 people—are living with blindness. Cataracts account for nearly 60% of these cases, yet fewer than one in three affected individuals receive surgical intervention. The study also highlighted gender-based disparities in both access to and outcomes of cataract surgery, underscoring the urgent need for equitable, community-focused eye care solutions.
Over the next 3 years, the outreach will deliver an estimated 60,000 vision screenings and 6,000 cataract surgeries, giving thousands the chance to regain their sight—and with it, independence and economic opportunity. But the initiative goes beyond immediate clinical impact. Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health will send two ophthalmologists and four nurses each month to receive hands-on retraining from Choithram Netralaya specialists, strengthening local capacity for long-term sustainability.
“Ensuring access to quality eye care is not just about restoring sight—it’s about restoring dignity, independence, and opportunity,” said Dr. Manal Taryam, CEO of Noor Dubai Foundation. “Through this initiative, we aim to empower communities by eliminating avoidable blindness and strengthening local ophthalmic capacity for lasting impact. This milestone project reflects the UAE’s commitment to public-private partnerships that bring relief to communities in need—wherever they are.”
A Logistically Robust Outreach Model
Each year, a 6-month surgical outreach camp will run between January and June, strategically avoiding the rainy season to optimize patient turnout and surgical outcomes. Screening will occur in three stages:
-
District-level hospital screenings led by local health teams
-
Online assessments reviewed by specialists at CMH
-
Final preoperative evaluation conducted one day before surgery in Freetown
To remove financial and geographic barriers, CMH will provide patient transport, cover meals and accommodation, and supply medications free of charge. Postoperative care will be available at district hospitals, enabling patients to receive follow-up support close to home.
The program’s outcomes will undergo evaluation led by Dr. Gabriel Osei-Anokye and Dr. Ving Fai Chan of Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), in collaboration with Noor Dubai’s research team. Their study will assess improvements in visual outcomes, quality of care, and socioeconomic wellbeing among beneficiaries. Using data-driven insights, the research will inform best practices for future cataract outreach models in Sierra Leone and beyond.
