Cause to celebrate! Eighteen-year-old Antonio Elias is hugged by his mother after a successful cataract operation on his right eye. © Riccardo Gangale / Sightsavers

Mozambique

Within the first decade of independence from Portugal in 1975, Mozambique was plunged into a civil war that lasted until October 1992. This devastated the agricultural sector, which is still recovering today. In fact more than 75% of the population engages in small scale agriculture, although 88% of Mozambique's arable land is still uncultivated.

Another major issue faced by Mozambicans is the severe droughts the country is prone to, which have caused migration to coastal cities, many of which are overcrowded as a result.

Sightsavers in Mozambique

Sightsavers Mozambique office opened in December 2007 and our main partners include the Ministries of Health, Education, Women and Social Action.

Our programme work will initially be in eye care, to provide a base for a full Comprehensive Eye Services programme. We hope to introduce education and rehabilitation for blind people by 2010.

Achievements

 

In 2010 in Mozambique, we supported our partners to carry out:

• The treatment of 12,257 people for sight related problems
• 779 cataract operations
• The screening of 9,309 people for refractive error

related info

 

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