June 2024 News Wrap

Our work, successes and impact in June 2024.

Over 116,000 children have been treated for trachoma in the first-ever child mass treatment campaign in Tigray, Ethiopia. 

This mass drug administration (MDA)* moves us and our partners one step closer in our goal to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem in Ethiopia by 2030.   

Following a survey conducted by Light for the World and the Tigray Health Bureau, seven districts in Tigray reported more than five percent of children have active trachoma cases, which is above the World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended rate. 

Based on WHO guidance, we conducted a mass treatment, targeting children aged between six months and nine years old. 

What’s more, twenty ophthalmic nurses across Tigray, who are undergoing certification training* to become Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT) surgeons, have received disability awareness and inclusion training. 

The training also encouraged TT surgeons and ophthalmic nurses to target and better support people with disabilities when rendering their vital TT surgery services in communities.  

Milat Birhanu, an ophthalmic nurse at Quiha Hospital Secondary Eye Care Unit, who took part in the training, says: “I had an eye-opening experience attending this disability awareness training. I am going to go back and discuss what I learned to make improvements at our secondary eye care unit.” 

*The training and MDA were implemented by Light for the World and RTI in collaboration with the Tigray Regional Health Bureau. And funded by USAID‘s ACT to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) | EAST and The END Fund via the ARISE programme.

Congratulations to Parton Musimenta, the winner of Sauti Canvas season two! 

Musimenta’s performance of I Will Be There by Bebe Rexha left a lasting impression on the audience and judges. 

Sauti Canvas, a partnership between Light for the World, Reach A Hand Uganda, Christian Blind Mission, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda and NRG-Uganda Radio, is a platform that celebrates and amplifies the talents of young artists with disabilities. 

Season two has demonstrated that inclusion and accessibility goes beyond raising awareness. Through such initiatives, we are taking action to build a creative industry where diversity is celebrated by promoting accessible spaces and opportunities for people with disabilities. Together, let’s ensure equal opportunities for all in the arts.
 
Big congratulations to all the winners and participants who shared their incredible talents! 

Watch highlights from Sauti Canvas season two below.

Participants from Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Malawi, India, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Austria, and beyond, have come together to share and scale up successful practices in disability inclusive agriculture and livestock. 

The ‘Learning Route’ brought together decision-makers and Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) in a journey across Malawi. It showcased the impact of services, support mechanisms and co-design ‘AgriLab’ workshops that have enabled the inclusion of people with disabilities in agricultural and livestock value chains. 

This Learning Route is part of the SPARK programme, led by Light for the World, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation and Procasur Africa. 

The IMPACT project has launched in Burkina Faso – bringing emergency support to people in Bittou, Koupela, Tenkodogo and Pouytenga provinces. 

Together with Burkinabe Red Cross and the Pugsada Support and Awakening Association, the project will provide humanitarian assistance, including measures to prevent gender-based violence, and services to support those affected. 

There will also be livelihood training for internally displaced people, focusing on people with disabilities, to generate income and financial resilience. 

The project is funded by the Austrian Development Agency. 

Introducing our Global Communications team! 

Colleagues travelled from across Africa and Europe to meet in Vienna this month for a week of exchanging, collaborating and learning. 

We deep-dived into our communications style and structure, exploring ethical storytelling, solutions-based communication, how to make reels, and much more!