Creating Proximity Eye Care Services in Two Remote Regions of Chad

In 2024, the OPC launched, together with the Lions Club of Chad and their International Foundation, a major initiative in the Ouaddaï and Guéra regions of eastern Chad. These rural areas, already underserved, are now facing the additional challenge of a massive influx of refugees from Sudan.

The project’s objective is ambitious yet vital: to strengthen ophthalmology services in two hospitals, create two optical workshops, train over 400 health workers and 200 teachers in eye screening, and provide 40,000 consultations by 2026. Essential equipment has already been delivered to the hospitals of Abéché (Ouaddaï) and Mongo (Guéra), marking a key milestone. Two nurses completed nine months of specialized training as optical technicians and will soon open the first optical workshop in Abéché, with a second set to follow in Mongo in 2025. These workshops will make it possible to produce and distribute eyeglasses locally, sustainably, and affordably for children and adults identified during community-based eye screenings.

In August 2025, the OPC organized a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in N’Djamena, bringing together ophthalmologists, eye health technicians, and representatives from the National Program for the Prevention of Blindness, alongside Lions Club International. The goal was to equip future trainers with both clinical and pedagogical skills so they could cascade their knowledge to teachers and community health workers. This approach aimed to build technical capacity while creating a multiplier effect for sustainable, long-term impact across Chad’s health system.

Over three days, participants engaged in sessions covering both fundamental and advanced topics in eye care. The first day introduced primary eye care and the role of trainers, while highlighting the need to engage schools and communities in early detection of conditions like cataract, glaucoma, and trachoma. The second day addressed more complex issues such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, alongside the correction of refractive errors like myopia and astigmatism. Trainers also developed practical tools, including referral forms and screening checklists, to support their future work.

The final day emphasized hands-on practice with essential diagnostic techniques and the creation of supervision plans tailored to Abéché, Mongo, and the national level. These plans outlined steps for identifying schools, training teachers, mobilizing communities, and linking children to treatment and locally produced glasses through new optical workshops. More than just a workshop, the ToT was a key step in OPC’s broader strategy to reduce preventable blindness in Chad, enabling children to see clearly, succeed in school, and look forward to brighter futures.