We met nine-year-old Netsanet at our recent training program in Hawassa, Ethiopia. It was clear she had a condition called strabismus, which causes the eyes to look in different directions when focusing.
Over time, strabismus can have a permanent impact on vision and can even cause blindness in the affected eye. At the same time, children with strabismus are at higher risk of anxiety and depression. As her father told us, “The kids would make fun of her all the time, and she would usually cry and worry about it.”
But recently, Netsanet had surgery to correct her vision thanks to our amazing team of Volunteer Faculty. She now has a lifetime of healthy vision ahead – and can join in with her school friends without being teased.