CBM UK’s See the Way appeal raised an incredible £845,000 in donations from supporters. This amount was matched by the UK government, bringing the total to over £1.8 million. The project has enabled CBM UK to address critical eye health needs in rural Rwanda, where access to such services is often limited.
In partnership with Kabgayi Eye Unit and the Catholic Diocese of Kabgayi, CBM UK has provided essential eye health services to 35,608 individuals. These services included screenings, treatments, and surgeries to address various eye conditions. The three-year project has also:
- Provided 2,487 cataract surgeries, restoring sight to people who had been living needlessly blind.
- Raised awareness and educated communities about eye health, the importance of early intervention, and available services.
- Trained and built the capacity of local healthcare staff to ensure the sustainability of eye health services in the region.
- Made four hospitals more accessible, adding features like wheelchair ramps, tactile walkways, and accessible toilets. Staff were also trained in Disability Inclusion, ensuring that these improvements are sustainable.
Before this project, only 17.5% of eye health consultations met the quality standards. This figure has soared to 73%, thanks to comprehensive training, mentoring, and essential equipment provided through the project.
Liliane Ingabire, Ophthalmic Clinical Officer at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare in Rwanda, highlighted the impact: “We learned to be inclusive in our service provision. We now have staff trained in sign language and a specially designed tactile walkway leading to the Ophthalmology Department. Facilities have been re-designed to meet these needs.”
Kirsty Smith, CBM UK Chief Executive, said: “The See the Way project has revolutionised the quality and accessibility of eye health services for some of the poorest people across four rural districts in Rwanda. Not only was the cost of sight-saving treatment funded, but by improving local services, people no longer need to travel long distances for treatment, a journey often too costly for many. Thank you to all our incredible supporters, partners and the UK government who made this project possible.”
Image by CBM UK/Habimana
