Niger

Blindness in Niger

Niger is a landlocked country in Western Africa that is named after the Niger River. It is one of the poorest countries in the world with two-thirds of its population living on less than $1 a day. The harsh climate, along with poor infrastructure, makes it a challenge to access medical services in Niger, particularly for the people living in rural areas.

For those living in remote villages, it is not uncommon to walk over 6 hours for medical attention, which becomes significantly more difficult during the wet season when flooding occurs throughout the country. With only 7 ophthalmologists in the entire country, eye care is extremely limited, leaving almost 440,000 people suffering from avoidable blindness in Niger to never receive proper treatment.