An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2019/Jan 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie 30 | BY ALISON BOUGH, COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, SIGHTSAVERS IRELAND A lmost two decades ago, Sightsavers made a long- term commitment to eliminate River Blindness in all regions of Liberia. Despite the international charity's tireless work being intermittently inter- rupted by the continuation of the Liberian civil war, their sight saving projects were restored in 2005, scaling up from the North West to the South West and South East regions of the African country from 2006 onwards. The Irish Defence Forces share a similar timeline in their history with Liberia; having had UN led peacekeeping opera- tions stationed in the country from 2003 to 2007. The HQ of the Irish contingent, Camp Clara, was established in the grounds of an abandoned hotel 10km north of Monrovia. In November 2004, serious rioting erupted in Monrovia and the Quick Reaction Force was deployed, playing a signifi- cant role in quelling the violence. In addition to their military tasks, all of the Irish contingents serving with UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) also became heavily involved in humanitarian and civil-military co-operation projects. Through funding from the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and fund-raising efforts by personnel on the ground many projects were undertaken. These included the construction of a major extension to a HIV/AIDS hospice in Monrovia run by the Sisters of Charity, support for leprosy and polio centres, and numerous schools. Five years ago, news of a deadly Ebola outbreak in West Af- rica shook the world. Liberia was one of the countries worst hit. At least 10,675 people were infected, 4,809 died, and an already weak health system came under immense strain. Today the country is rebuilding this system. In 2015, with the devastating Ebola crisis brought under control, Sightsavers began supporting survivors through the Redemption Hospi- tal, providing screening for Uveitis and other eye conditions. Blindness remains a public health concern in Liberia; with an ageing population, an increasing number of people will be at risk of visual impairment from cataract. The country's cataract surgical coverage is less than half of the required level and the number of eye health professionals ready to address the situation is limited. However, through Sightsav- ers' support, the Liberian Ministry of Health has succeeded in setting up eye outreaches in clinics in five Southeast coun- ties, and continues to provide quality eye care services to the A Sightsavers project screens children for Onchocerciasis in Liberia. Onchocerciasis (also known as oncho or river blindness) is a parasitic infection that can cause severe skin irritation, itching and, over time, irreversible blindness. It's spread by the bite of infected black flies that breed near fast flowing rivers. Copyright John Healey Photography

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