The generosity of Casey residents has helped changed the life of a five-year-old girl in Kenya, as well as many others.
In the past year, 15 people from Casey region are have become regular supporters of The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Founding Director Gabi Hollows said the unwavering support and generosity from Casey is inspiring and a reminder of the true-blue Australian spirit that Fred loved so much.
“I know that this is undoubtedly a challenging time for many of our supporters,” Ms Hollows said.
“This certainly is our toughest year; trying to restore sight to people who are needlessly blind during a global pandemic.”
Night was desperate to go to school with the other children as she yearned to be a teacher, but her condition of cataract in both eyes stopped her.
Their family lives changed the day a community health worker, trained by The Fred Hollows Foundation, visited their village and said their little girl could get help.
After a five-hour journey, Night and her father Stephen arrived at the Sabatia Eye Hospital.
When the quick and simple procedure was completed, Night’s eye patches were lifted and, much to her delight, she could see again.
“Thank you so much because you have helped my daughter and she is able to see again,” Stephen said.
“I am overjoyed because deep down I knew we couldn’t afford the cost of surgery to have her eyesight restored. But because of you, my daughter is able to see and she is so happy.
“I don’t have anything to give in return, it’s just the happiness that I can portray to show you how grateful I am. Thank you.”
At the start of the pandemic, The Foundation began contributing to local responses across the world through redirecting resources to fight the pandemic.
Many health care workers who usually focus on eye care have been using their medical expertise on the frontlines, such as nurses in the Foundation’s eye hospitals in the Philippines and Kenya
Without better funding and access to eye care services, the number of people who are blind is set to triple from 36 million to 115 million over the next 30 years.
To combat this, The Fred Hollows Foundation is training local doctors, nurses, community workers and teachers in eye health, in the places where they are most needed.
