Archbishop Desmond Tutu Launches 100,000 Cataract Operations in 100 days
Cape Town, South Africa (ots/PRNewswire)
"We can really do something to change the world," says Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "I think not being able to see is one of the most debilitating disabilities in our world today," Archbishop Tutu said at the launching of Christian Blind Mission's worldwide "100,000 Miracles" campaign at an International Press Conference held today at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Archbishop Tutu added, "Giving sight is not just a physical thing but you can give back someone's dignity. Let's stop talking. With the world's help we can make a difference in 100,000 lives. How about the world getting behind the 100,000 miracles and making it happen?"
Globally, an estimated 600 million people are living with a disability. Of these, 80% live in low income countries with little or no access to health and rehabilitation services.
CBM President Professor Allen Foster said, "Worldwide 17 million people are totally blind because of cataracts. If we could reach them today, tomorrow they would all see. CBM reaches only 2.3% of people in need. That's why we are asking people today to join us to help the poorest of the poor in giving them back their sight, what a great blessing for the person giving and receiving sight."
CBM's "100,000 Miracles" global campaign aims to provide 100,000 sight restoring, life changing cataract operations in 100 days. The campaign is being supported by the people of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Switzerland and the USA. For under US$50, CBM can give someone in a developing country the Miracle of sight.
CBM is the leading organisation rescuing and restoring the lives of people trapped in poverty by disability around the world. CBM provides services to more than 12 million people - the poorest of the poor living with disabilities - in more than 1,000 projects in 113 countries regardless of nationality, gender or religion.
Contact:
For further information: Lindsay O'Connor, Int'l Media Manager,
Phone: +27-21-914-3014/5/6/7, Email: loconnor@cbm-i.org