At least 13,000 people have benefited from two German-supported eye care campaigns in South Sudan, the German Embassy said in a press release on Thursday.
The campaign was organized by the Catholic Diocese of Wau, with the support of Germany through the Embassy in South Sudan and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the South Sudan Red Cross, Cure Blindness, and State Ministries of Health.
The campaigns brought essential care to communities in Mapuordit in Lakes State and Aweil in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal.
A team of local medical professionals led the campaigns, working alongside international experts to deliver high-quality care.
At least 13,000 individuals were screened, of whom almost 10,000 were treated for conditions such as infections, allergic reactions, and glaucoma.
Over 2,650 cataract surgeries were performed (over 2,000 in Aweil and over 650 in Mapuordit), restoring sight to those who had been living with blindness.
According to the press release, vision impairment and blindness remain urgent public health concerns in South Sudan, affecting over 1.1 million people, with nearly 100,000 living in complete blindness.
The effects, the press release added, are profound, including limiting access to education, livelihoods, and independence while deepening poverty within families.
Challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited healthcare services, and widespread poverty have made access to treatment nearly impossible for many, particularly in rural areas. The campaigns also extended care to refugees, who particularly face limited access to essential services.
In South Sudan, GIZ GmbH works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
GIZ GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. The agency supports the German Government in international cooperation for sustainable development. It is also engaged in education activities around the globe. GIZ assists people and societies in shaping their own future and improving living conditions.