Ophthalmologist: Her name is Vishnu Maya. Because she cannot see so she cannot walk.

V/O: Men and women go blind at nearly the same rate. But in low-income countries like Nepal, the majority of those who receive treatment are men and boys.  As a result, far more women and girls remain blind. Two-thirds of children living with treatable blindness are girls.

When Vishnu Maya lost her sight due to cataracts she was no longer able to work or be independent.

With hope and determination, her son carried her on his back for two days to reach Seva’s surgical eye camp.

Ophthalmologist: She can see only white, like a fog. Tomorrow I hope she can see the world once more.

V/O: The solution was simple. A $50 cataract surgery, funded by Seva donors, changed everything. The next morning Vishnu Maya’s bandages were removed and her life was transformed.

Ophthalmologist: She was bilaterally blind, now she can see.

V/O: Walking home beside her son, Vishnu Maya was able to see the mountains that she’d been carried over, blind, just the day before.   

Seva Canada has pioneered over two decades of improvement in gender and blindness. Overcoming cultural and economic barriers, Seva donors have restored the sight of millions of women and girls in low-income countries. However, inequity persists, and the overall number of people who are blind continues to rise. Women continue to face barriers, and girls face additional challenges, being too young to advocate for themselves.
 

V/O: Together we can ensure women and girls have equal access to eye care because when women and girls can see and succeed, we all succeed!

CTA: seva.ca

#EqualRight2Sight