Sarwar finds a lifeline in helping others to see

My story

Where Sarwar lives, opportunity is scarce and avoidable blindness is common.

Sarwar is 22 years old and lives in Killa Virkan, a small village in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Until recently, this village had one of the highest incidence rates for trachoma in the country.

Sarwar lives in a mud hut with just two rooms but aspired to do something to help her village.  

How we helped 
The Lady Health Worker (LHW) programme, supported by Seeing is Believing, trains women to become community health workers to identify eye conditions in remote communities, provide basic treatment and make referrals.  Sarwar’s application was accepted and she was trained as a LHW specializing in primary eye-care. She is now able to diagnose eye diseases and refer eye patients to the hospital. She is also able to provide the antibiotic tetracycline to treat common eye diseases.

As a LHW, Sarwar has found a rewarding occupation in her community as well as a livelihood. Sarwar still finds it a challenge to change the rigid behavior of people in her village as they are reluctant to spend money on their health.

With the encouragement of health workers like Sarwar, people are becoming aware of how to prevent blindness as well as access treatment. For example, Sarwar has been teaching people about the importance of washing their hands so that they don’t get trachoma, an eye disease caused by poor hygiene and sanitation. 

To help us train and employ more Lady Health Workers, please donate.