BERKELEY, Calif.—The Seva Foundation is a non-profit international health organization that partners worldwide to create self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight. The foundation has worked closely with local partners and hospitals in 20 countries around the world, including the Angkor Hospital for Children in Cambodia.
The Seva Foundation supports the Angkor Hospital for Children to provide pediatric eyecare in Cambodia. The foundation offers school screenings, equipment, medical supplies and training for teachers. Per 100 students, one teacher is selected to receive a full day of training. Once complete, the teachers are able to properly screen their students and refer them to the Seva and Angkor’s team for additional eyecare.
According to the Neang Diro, childhood blindness coordinator of Seva Cambodia, the most common vision problems in Cambodia are cataract, corneal opacity and glaucoma. According to Diro, there is not only a lack of eyecare awareness and financial means, but also a stigma behind getting treatment
To remedy this, Seva has provided vital eyecare to 50,000 Cambodian children every year.