Malawi boy at eye hospital taken by Paulo Patruno for Seva Canada

(c) Paolo Patruno www.paolopatruno.org

This October, for the third straight year, Delta Optical will donate $30 from every pair of eye glasses sold toward Seva Canada’s pediatric eye care programs in eastern Africa in honour of World Sight Day. Children who have their vision restored are given an average of 50 more years of sight. To date Delta Optical has given children thousands of years of sight. Thursday October 11th 2012 is World Sight Day and Delta Optical is once again dedicating the entire month of October to this campaign in support of Seva Canada’s pediatric eye care programs in Tanzania, Malawi and Madagascar.

World Sight Day is an international day of awareness to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. 80% of all visual impairment is avoidable by prevention, treatment or cure. Childhood blindness and low-vision caused by cataracts is up to 10x more prevalent in Africa than in Canada. A 15-minute life-changing pediatric cataract operation allows a child to go to school, play with friends and reach their full potential.

The funds raised by Delta Optical will help to restore sight to some of the 300,000 blind children in Africa and give them, their families and communities a brighter future. “I’m originally from Tanzania and have seen first-hand how children and their families struggle to survive day-to-day. Children with low vision or who are blind from cataracts are confronted with even greater obstacles and fewer chances to get ahead. I believe as a society, we should give a child every opportunity to excel and better his or her life. I am honoured for the third straight year to raise funds through our World Sight Day campaign to give sight to children in eastern Africa through Seva Canada’s programs,” said Zaf Khalfan, owner of Delta Optical.

“Restoring sight is one of the most cost-effective health interventions to reduce poverty according to the World Health Organization. By purchasing glasses from Delta Optical in October, you are truly giving African children and their families the power of sight, helping them escape the cycle of poverty” says Penny Lyons of Seva Canada.

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