Fatuma had to wait until she turned 18 before she could register with the local Vision Centre in Mtwara, Tanzania. Fatuma had known for a while that she wasn’t seeing well. She had been struggling at school, approaching the blackboard at the end of class to record important details rather than admitting to her problem.
When she was finally able to visit the centre, she wasn’t sure what to expect. A quick check by the ophthalmic nurse determined that her problems were most likely refractive in nature and she was sent to the optometrist for further testing. It turned out that Fatuma was nearsighted so while she had been able to function while performing near tasks, her distance vision was poor often leaving her feeling unsure of her environment.
An obvious smile crept across her face when wearing the correct trial frame that gave her clear vision.
Choosing her eyewear was quick - she didn’t care much how they looked but more importantly how she would see. When Fatuma returned and her eyewear was fitted, she was speechless. Asked what she would enjoy most she simply stated, “What can you say about seeing better? It will improve EVERYTHING!”
She said the new glasses would help her support her family – she could now pursue her education, which in turn would allow her to provide for her aging parents. She expressed her humble thanks to the staff at the Vision Centre and was grinning from ear to ear as she left, taking in the new world around her.
Just $5 can provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses for someone like Fatuma.
Watch this new video from one of our project partners in Mozambique
