Germany is funding an integrated eye care campaign in Wau town, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, aimed at restoring the eyesight of more than 1,200 people and treating over 3,000 others for various eye diseases, the German Embassy in Juba said on Thursday.
The campaign, launched on Tuesday at Wau Teaching Hospital by the Catholic Diocese of Wau, is supported by the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). It marks the third consecutive year the German Embassy has financed the initiative.
“Behind each operation, there’s a human story — an elderly mother who will see her children again, a young man who can provide for his family, or a child who can return to school,” designated Ambassador Gregory Bledjian said at the launch. “Germany is proud to support this initiative as part of our longstanding partnership with South Sudan and its health sector.”
Health experts say blindness and vision impairment remain major public health challenges in South Sudan, particularly in rural areas where health infrastructure is limited. The conditions restrict access to education and employment and deepen poverty among affected families.
The Diocese of Wau said the outreach program combines medical treatment, surgical care, and community health education. It expects to restore vision for 1,200 cataract patients and provide treatment for more than 3,000 people with other eye conditions.
“This campaign is more than a medical intervention – it’s a catalyst for dignity and development,” said Tatjana Gerber, health advisor for the diocese. “The support from the German Embassy allows us to confront the public health crisis of blindness head-on, transforming lives and empowering communities.”
The Embassy said the initiative falls under Germany’s Small-Scale Projects program, which funds locally led, inclusive, and sustainable development projects. It pledged continued support for the eye care campaign next year.
Germany’s broader development cooperation in South Sudan includes support for local governance, rural development, sustainable agriculture, water and sanitation, peacebuilding, gender equality, and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.