In Ethiopia more than 1.2 million people are blind.
According to WHO, three quarters of this is preventable.
causes of childhood blindness in Ethiopia are corneal conditions caused through measles or Vitamin A deficiency, d by infections and accidents.
Alchemy World believes that visually impaired youths in Ethiopia should have equal chances to become successful young entrepreneurs. Therefore we have established our first AWSEC for the Blind in December 2008. Our school is situated at the compound of the Sabata Blind School, 20 kilometres south-west of Addis Ababa.
The centre is funded by UK-based Ethiopaid and equipped with special computers and Braille printers for the visually impaired.
The first class consists of 16 students aged between 18 and 28 who are trained in English, IT and business skills. Within three years they will be ready to start their own mid-size businesses and to employ others, bringing wealth back into their communities of origin.
In April 2009 our students will be examined by professional ophtamologists that volunteered to be part of our organization to establish the nature of their blindness. If cure is possible, Alchemy World and Ethiopiaid will fund the operation or treatment.
Cataract, glaucoma, corneal opacity, diabetic retinopathy, onchocerciasis, childhood blindness, trachoma, and some other causes of blindness can potentially all be prevented and/or treated. (WHO Factsheet 2004)of childhood blindness in Ethiopia are corneal conditions caused through measles or Vitamin A deficiency, by infections and accidents.
According to the humanitarian organisation ORBIS - which strives to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries - the main causes of childhood blindness in Ethiopia are corneal conditions caused through measles or Vitamin A deficiency, followed by infections and accidents. e
