Bringing eye health closer to the most vulnerable population also implies removing barriers and providing services and improvements to facilitate their access, avoiding possible obstacles such as logistics and displacement problems. Especially at a time when, in addition, the pandemic has forced the closure of borders, preventing the transfer of external surgical commissions.
With this objective, on August 8, the first shelter was inaugurated in the wilaya of Bechar (Algeria) intended solely for Sahrawi people with eye pathologies who have been referred from the refugee camps to the Bechar ophthalmological hospital to receive a specific treatment. This project is part of the agreement made by the Ministry of Public Health with the hospital to be able to attend to 15/20 people each month.
Eyes of the world oversees maintaining the shelter and all the expenses for rent, supplies, food, travel, and staff… The facility is fully equipped and comprises seven rooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, an office, and storage. The Foundation also refers patients to Bechar and in the follow-up of the people treated and/or operated on.
The inauguration was attended by different representatives of the Ministry of Public Health and health officials from the hospital and the wilaya of Bechar.
This activity is part of the Eyes of the Sahara project and is financed by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).