Our work in South Africa. © Sightsavers

South Africa

Although South Africa is classed as a upper to middle income country, this classification masks the gross inequalities in income and provision of basic services between the poorer black majority and the richer white minority.The 2002 National Guideline for Prevention of Blindness in South Africa found that 80% of blindness is avoidable and that 80% of people who are blind live in rural areas.

Sightsavers in South Africa

Sightsavers first started work in South Africa in 2001 supporting organisations to provide eye care to the neediest ares of the country in terms of eye care provision.

Achievements

 

Last year in South Africa, we supported our partners to carry out:

• The treatment of 35,418 people for sight related problems
• 1,313 cataract operations
• The screening of 6,218 people for refractive error