As October marks Blindness Awareness Month, Sierra Leone has welcomed a major milestone in its fight against avoidable blindness. Noor Dubai Foundation, in partnership with Choithram International Foundation and the Ministry of Health, has successfully completed the first cycle of a three-year cataract outreach programme aimed at restoring vision and improving quality of life for thousands of Sierra Leoneans.
The initiative, supported by the UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has already provided over 1,500 cataract surgeries in its first year, with a target of 6,000 surgeries and 60,000 screenings over the project’s lifespan. Implemented through Choithram Memorial Hospital in Freetown, with technical support from India’s Choithram Netralaya (Eye Hospital), the programme is designed to strengthen local ophthalmic capacity and ensure sustainable eye care delivery across the country.
A 2021 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) study found that 5.4% of Sierra Leoneans aged 50 and above suffer from blindness, affecting more than 43,000 people, primarily due to untreated cataracts. The outreach programme, therefore, represents a crucial step in addressing one of the country’s most urgent public health challenges.
Dr. Manal Taryam, CEO of Noor Dubai Foundation, emphasized the human impact of the initiative: “Ensuring access to quality eye care is not just about restoring sight; it’s about restoring dignity, independence and opportunity. Through this initiative, we aim to empower communities by eliminating avoidable blindness and strengthening local ophthalmic capacity for long-term impact.”
Each year, a six-month surgical outreach camp will be held between January and June to deliver free surgeries, post-operative care, and follow-up services at district hospitals. To remove barriers to access, patients will receive free transportation, meals, accommodation and medication throughout their treatment period.
Chairman of Choithrams Group, L.T. Pagarani, hailed the partnership as a model for impactful humanitarian collaboration. “Through the Lighthouse Project, we are bringing the spirit of goodwill and global partnership to life; delivering goodness the way we do every day at Choithrams,” he said, acknowledging the UAE leadership, Noor Dubai Foundation and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health for their joint commitment.
Beyond direct medical intervention, the programme includes monthly training for Sierra Leonean ophthalmologists and nurses to build local expertise. Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, led by Dr. Gabriel Osei-Anokye and Dr. Ving Fai Chan, are evaluating the initiative’s medical and socio-economic outcomes to ensure continuous improvement and long-term sustainability.
With the success of its first phase, the cataract outreach programme stands as a beacon of hope for thousands living with preventable blindness; an inspiring testament to how international collaboration and compassion can illuminate lives in need.
