ultimate.earth Brings vision care to Kunene
For many people, a pair of reading glasses is an inexpensive and easily accessible item. However, for residents of some of Namibia's most remote communities, access to even basic eye care can be difficult.
Long travel distances, limited healthcare services and the costs associated with seeking assistance mean many people live with deteriorating vision without receiving treatment.
In an effort to address this challenge, ultimate.earth (formerly Ultimate Safaris), through its non-profit arm, the Conservation Travel Foundation, partnered with T-UP Vision, a public benefit organisation that provides vision screening and corrective eyewear to underserved communities around the world. The initiative was launched as a pilot project in the Kunene Region, focusing on field rangers working with Save the Rhino Trust and residents of surrounding communities in the Palmwag area.
During the first phase of the programme, close to 100 staff members and community residents underwent vision screening. The project was later expanded to the Uibasen-Twyfelfontein, Doro !Nawas and Sorris Sorris conservancies. Over nearly 10 days, the T-UP Vision team travelled between communities, conducting vision assessments and providing corrective eyewear on site. Following registration, participants completed distance and reading vision tests. Once their requirements were determined, glasses were assembled and fitted immediately.
In total, more than 410 conservancy members and community residents were screened and provided with corrective eyewear, while the broader initiative reached almost 500 people across the region. The results showed that while most participants had good long-distance vision, more than 80% required reading glasses. For many, declining near vision had affected their ability to read, complete paperwork, use mobile phones, identify medicine labels, manage finances, sew and repair equipment. Many beneficiaries would otherwise have struggled to access eye care services. For some, obtaining an eye examination would require travelling hundreds of kilometres, taking time away from work and family responsibilities and incurring significant costs.
By bringing the service directly to communities, the programme removed many of these barriers.
The impact was immediate for many participants. Rangers were able to complete reports more comfortably, while community members who had difficulty reading were able to see text clearly again. Some elderly residents also regained the ability to read messages from family members. According to ultimate.earth, the initiative forms part of its broader commitment to ensuring that conservation and tourism activities deliver benefits to local communities.
"The ability to see clearly is something many of us take for granted, yet it can profoundly influence a person's independence, confidence and opportunities," said Tristan Cowley, managing director of ultimate.earth.
"The remarkable thing about this initiative is that such a simple intervention can have an immediate and lasting impact on people's lives. Seeing the reactions of community members as they put on their glasses for the first time was incredibly powerful."
Following the success of the pilot project and the positive response from participating communities, plans are underway to expand the initiative to other remote areas of Namibia next year.
