He further claims that they have also provided dispensing to 737, 000 pairs of glasses in 24 countries across Africa.
Njie made these remarks during the commemoration of World Sight Day. The convergence was held at the country’s capital city, Banjul.
He reaffirmed his organisation's commitment in providing quality health care to needy people, saying: “Our aim among others is to ensure we help everyone wherever they need our services in order to enable them to see properly.”
His foundation, he explained, is also collaborating with the Ministry of Health with the desire of enhancing the availability of vision care and up-skill optometrists.
The foundation, he continued, has launched a glass ‘manufacturing lab’, saying: “We have established seven vision centers. Again, we will be opening another centre at EFSTH by the end of the year,” he promised.
Njie further continued: “We have trained 13 technicians and sponsored four optometrists to undergo training for Bachelors level in India.”
Upon completion of their training, he said, “their skills will be invaluable and that they will continue to help us in our quest to provide vision care in the countries.”
“Furthermore, our team in the Gambia which is headed by one Vincent Mendy and Muhammed Lamin F. Kinteh with other partners, have conducted 58 outreaches. Through this outreach, 11,510 people have benefited from free wearers under our newly launched philanthropic project.”
He further claimed that his foundation has invested “over $2 million in The Gambia with a view to strengthening refractive error infrastructure, saying: “We are committed to continued investment in training, ensuring these vision care systems remain self-sustaining.”
“I have witnessed the transformative power of good vision. It opens opportunities, lifts families from poverty, and fosters well-being and independence particularly for women and children. Therefore, we remain dedicated to bringing good vision to even the most remote African communities with the desire of upholding ‘The Right to See' for all,” he emphasised.
“Uncorrected poor vision affects one in three people globally, with 90% residing in developing communities where access to vision care and awareness is limited.”
Good vision, he said, “changes everything and that is why the One-Sight EssilorLuxottica Foundation partners with governments, NGOs and private organizations to create sustainable access to vision care.”
Concluding, he said: “We provide free eye exams and glasses, fund local programs, and raise awareness among policymakers and communities in order to achieve our ambition of eliminating uncorrected poor vision in a generation.”
