Story of the Week: Lions, LCIF Launch Program to Eliminate Trachoma in China

Through our efforts and global partnerships, we’re working to eliminate preventable blindness. The Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and our clubs immunized 41 million children in Africa against measles, a leading cause of childhood blindness. Now, Lions and LCIF will eliminate blinding trachoma in China by 2016 and improve low vision services through a partnership with the Chinese Ministry of Health and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation.

Unveiled in Shenzhen, China, on Lions World Sight Day, Phase III of SightFirst China Action (SFCA) includes an estimated commitment by LCIF of up to US$6-10 million. This builds upon the more than US$30 million donated since SFCA was unveiled in 1999, which was matched by US$200 million from the Chinese government. These funds have strengthened the national eye care infrastructure throughout the country, resulting in greater access to vision care, and provided more than 5.2 million cataract surgeries to date.

In this video, you’ll see a vision screening on Lions World Sight Day in Shenzhen.