Through its partnership with Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust has been able to make great strides toward eliminating trachoma – a debilitating and blinding disease – across Kenya and Uganda. The Trust and LCIF share the goal of a world where everyone is free from avoidable vision loss.
Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. It is most commonly found in underserved areas where people have limited access to clean water and healthcare. Each infection causes scar tissue to develop under the eyelid, which eventually causes the eyelids to turn inward. With every blink, the eyelashes scrape the surface of the eye, scarring the cornea. If left untreated, these repeated infections can lead to irreversible blindness.
The collaborative spirit of LCIF and the…dedication of its members is an inspiration to the Trust’s work…
Since 2014, the Trust, with support from LCIF, has provided sight-saving surgery to more than 64,000 people with the advanced stage of the disease, called trichiasis, across Kenya and Uganda. We have so far reached 85% of all the people in these countries who need treatment. The simple operation allows people to return to work, support their families and lead active lives in their communities.
Partners in Service
Partnering with Lions has provided a wealth of benefits and has dramatically increased the impact of the trachoma program. Leadership from Lions at the global level has raised awareness of trachoma and helped to attract more support to end the disease once and for all.
Local Lions in Kenya and Uganda are vocal and motivated advocates who promote quality eye health care. Having these passionate Lions on the ground is invaluable for the Trust.
Local Lions are involved in all aspects of the work required to provide patients with sight-saving surgery. Lions have played a crucial role in informing communities about the danger of trachoma, including appearing on local radio to inform people about upcoming trachoma surgery camps. The connections that Lions have in their communities enables them to meet with key influencers, including district counselors, religious leaders and government officials to raise awareness of surgery camps.
Lions have helped people travel to surgery camps so they can receive treatment. The Lions observe the surgeries being conducted and then visit some post-operative patients in their homes to assess the outcome of the surgery and how patients are progressing. This holistic, personal approach helps to provide reassurance and support for those receiving surgery.
Local Lions attend and contribute to the national and regional trachoma planning meetings that review progress and develop strategy.
Thanks to support from LCIF, and the dedication of local Lions, both Kenya and Uganda are on track to eliminate trachoma in the very near future. The Trust looks forward to continuing this partnership and celebrating the role that Lions have made in ending blinding trachoma.
Dr. Astrid Bonfield, chief executive of the Trust said, “I am delighted that Lions Clubs International Foundation has joined forces with The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to eliminate the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. LCIF has decades of experience in blindness prevention, and their community has made extraordinary progress in bringing sight to many millions of people around the world. The collaborative spirit of LCIF and the unfaltering dedication of its members is an inspiration to the Trust’s work across the Commonwealth.”
Visit LCIF.org/BE100 to learn how Campaign 100 will lead the charge to rid the world of infectious blindness, reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment, and improve overall quality of life by providing services to those with blindness or visual impairment.
Matthew Little is the program manager for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.
