An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 31 people in that region, with at least 600 cataract surgeries performed every year. Sightsavers is now the only NGO supporting Oncho- cerciasis (commonly known as river blindness) elimina- tion in Liberia. This painful disease is a parasitic infection that causes severe skin irritation, itching and, over time, irreversible blindness. It is spread by the bite of infected black flies that breed near fast flowing rivers. It can be treated with medication called Mectizan, or Ivermectin, given to entire communities annually or biannually in a process called mass drug administration (MDA). After re- peated MDA over many years, transmission of the disease can be broken and eliminated. In Liberia, onchocerciasis is present in all 15 counties of the country. Sightsavers began their nationwide MDA treatment in 2006 and have made significant progress, now reaching over 80% of targeted communities. The current phase of the Liberia eye health project runs from 2017 to 2021 with Irish Aid being the main funding agency. CEO of Sightsavers Ireland, Charlie Lamson, says the charity's continued aim is to ensure universal access to eye health by all in Liberia. "In 2017, we received a five-year development funding grant from Irish Aid to support our programmes in West Africa. The grant supports work in four countries – Cam- eroon, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Liberia – and enables us to save sight and change lives while delivering measurable results and accountability. In Liberia, we continue to achieve this by strengthening the overall health system and investing in eye health hu- man resources, the rehabilitation of eye facilities, equip- ping health facilities with the necessary eye equipment and the provision of adequate eye health products and supplies. We are also implementing affirmative advocacy actions aimed at promoting the inclusion of eye health and disability in national health plans and policy. Both Irish Aid and the Irish public are key in supporting this vital work." Ray McAvoy, from Athlone, is a retired member of the Defence Forces (4th Hospital Company) and long- term supporter of the charity's work. Having served in the Medical Corps from the age of 19, Ray points to the lifelong impact that saving someone's sight can have: "When you really think about people – adults and chil- dren – needlessly losing their sight, if you imagine your own family or children or grandchildren, it would be life shattering. We have health problems here at home but if you think about a child going blind in a developing coun- try and the permanent effect that would have on the rest of their life… that can be avoided for what is really very little money so I will continue to support Sightsavers' bril- liant work." Sightsavers is an Irish registered charity CHY15437 cur- rently working to restore sight, prevent blindness and fight for disability rights in Liberia and more than 30 countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. To find out more about their work, log on to www.sightsavers.ie or chat to a member of the team on 01 6637666. Irish UN Peacekeepers on a Long-Range Patrol (LRP) in Liberia, 2006. Irish UN Peacekeepers conducting helicopter operations, 2009. Salomie stands with her son, Anthony, aged 6, after he was screened for Onchocerciasis in Gorzohn, 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 The road that leads to Gorzohn, River Cess, Liberia. Copyright John Healey Photography.

• Cover