9/16/2026
As part of its ongoing “Ibsar” initiative to combat eye diseases that cause vision loss, and with the support of donors in Qatar, Qatar Charity (QC), in cooperation with Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action, implemented a medical campaign to address treatable blindness. The initiative benefited thousands of people in the Dakar and Saint-Louis regions and helped restore hope to hundreds of patients through free eye screening, treatment, and surgical services.
During the campaign, 2,953 people received eye examinations and medical consultations, while 1,290 prescription eyeglasses and 4,964 units of eye medications and eye drops were distributed.
Multidisciplinary Team
The screening activities identified 729 cataract cases requiring surgery, and 481 cataract operations were successfully performed during the campaign period.
The campaign was implemented by a multidisciplinary team comprising eight ophthalmologists, 11 eye care and cataract surgery specialists, six additional eye-care technicians, and 50 support staff, ensuring comprehensive services throughout the screening, treatment, surgery, and follow-up stages.
The initiative was carried out under the partnership between Qatar Charity and the Ministry of Health and Social Action through the National Eye Health Programme, supporting national efforts to reduce preventable blindness and improve access to specialized eye-care services for vulnerable communities.
Challenge of Cataracts
These interventions are particularly important given the challenges facing eye health services in Senegal. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in the country, while limited access to specialized surgical services, high treatment costs, and inadequate public awareness continue to prevent many patients from receiving timely care.
By providing examinations, surgeries, medications, and follow-up services free of charge, the campaign expanded access to specialized eye care, reduced the financial burden on patients and their families, shortened waiting lists for surgery, and supported knowledge exchange among healthcare professionals working in the field of eye health.
Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Advisor to the Senegalese Minister of Health, praised the cooperation between Senegal and the State of Qatar in supporting the healthcare sector. He commended Qatar Charity’s efforts to combat blindness and visual impairment through targeted medical programmes and enhanced prevention and treatment services for vulnerable communities.
For his part, Mustafa Essatte, Director of Qatar Charity’s Senegal Branch, said the campaign reflects the successful partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Action and demonstrates Qatar Charity’s commitment to ensuring access to quality healthcare for those most in need. He noted that restoring sight goes beyond improving health outcomes, enabling beneficiaries to pursue education, employment, mobility, and self-reliance while enhancing their social and economic well-being.