HAPPY LIVES
A student from Los Angeles launches the HAPPY LIVES project to fund cataract surgeries in Mali, aiming to restore vision and provide a second chance at life for those unable to afford medical treatment.
The useful part before the long read.
600,000 Africans experience blindness each year due to cataracts, yet only 0.0005% of the population receives surgery.
The HAPPY LIVES project aims to raise $4,400 to provide 44 cataract surgeries and 440 health checkups in Mali.
The average household income in Mali is less than $3 per day, making the $130 cost per eye surgery prohibitive for most.
Cataract surgeries take only one hour but significantly impact a person's ability to maintain an income and quality of life.
Project Introduction
Hello! This is my cataract project named HAPPY LIVES.
I am from Los Angeles, California. I recently heard about the problem of cataract in Africa. I learned that many people in Africa face cataracts, which initially begin small, but over time result in complete blindness in the eye. Although a huge number of people are in need of getting a cataract surgery, they don’t have the financial support to do so. Learning about the issue, this platform gave me a huge opportunity to help contribute and give a new perspective to hundreds of people.
The Crisis in Africa
There are 600,000 Africans who experience blindness each year due to cataracts. Yet, of the entire African population, only about 0.0005% get cataract surgery.
Group Fundraising
Fundraising Goals and Impact
We plan to fundraise $4,400, which will provide 44 cataract surgeries and 440 health checkups to people in need in Mali. Cataract surgeries only take 1 hour, but in that one hour the life of a person changes. In Mali, the cost of operation for one cataract surgery is about $130 USD per eye. The problem is, the average household income is less than $3 dollars per day and as such most patients who are in need of a treatment aren’t able to even get the most standard level of medical treatment necessary.
By choosing to invest HAPPY LIVES, you will be giving people with cataract a second chance at life. Your donations will be a new hope for them. Proper eyesight and vision are imperative to maintain an income in the modern world. Even a small donation of $5 is a big step for providing a new vision to a person.