CBM Christian Blind Mission

2024: the year Pakistan eliminated trachoma as a public health concern. This is one step closer to eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Across all regions, CBM supported inclusive health programs that brought life-changing treatment to thousands, ensuring progress in the fight against preventable blindness. We are immensely grateful for the collaboration with local communities, the Pakistan government, and institutional donors who made this possible. Looking ahead to 2025, CBM will focus on expanding access to health services to reach even more people affected by NTDs and other preventable diseases. #BeatNTDs #TrachomaElimination #InclusiveDevelopment

In Kenya, preventable blindness has kept many from living to their fullest potential. But progress is happening. Through CBM’s Vision Impact Project, over 8,443 cataract surgeries have been performed, two new eye units have been built, and 2,491 community health workers have been trained across seven counties. The project is funded by CBM, BMZ (The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), and private philanthropists. Children diagnosed with blinding diseases are now thriving in school after surgery and treatment, parents are returning to work, and communities are growing stronger with access to quality eye care. With the project set to conclude by 2025, we’re working to ensure these gains are sustainable through local partnerships and advocacy. 🎥 Watch this video to see how access to eye care is transforming lives across Kenya. #EyeHealth #CBM #VisionForAll #SustainableDevelopment

Today, CBM joins global advocates to highlight the urgent need for disability-inclusive universal health coverage (UHC). Persons with disabilities, who make up 15% of the global population, are disproportionately left behind in healthcare systems. Achieving UHC means removing these barriers and ensuring healthcare is accessible, equitable, and inclusive by design. This year, CBM made strides toward this goal: ✅ Providing community-based eye care and surgeries in underserved regions through mobile clinics in remote areas of Kenya, Cameroon, Guatemala, India, Uganda, and South Sudan. ✅Advocating for inclusive policies at global platforms like the World Health Assembly, in collaboration with partners such as the International Disability and Development Consortium, to ensure equal access to essential health services. ✅ Scaling WASH and NTD programs to eliminate preventable causes of disability in Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Sudan. ✅ Expanding eye care services by building new health facilities such as the new Mengo Eye Clinic which provides advanced care to over 100,000 patients annually, bridging gaps in vision care. ✅ Offering holistic rehabilitation to 12,000 patients annually, including 7,500 children with physical disabilities at the new CoRSU Rehabilitation Centre. Inclusive healthcare is central to building a just and sustainable world. Let’s continue working towards a future where Health for All truly includes everyone. #UHCDay #HealthForAll #DisabilityInclusion #CBMImpact

#16DaysOfActivism CBM launched our Silent Tears exhibition at DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FUR INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT (GIZ) GmbH, which tells the stories of women with disabilities who have survived gender-based violence. Women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, facing higher rates of intimate partner violence. According to UN Women, women with disabilities are three times more likely to experience this abuse. Worldwide, 51,100 women and girls lost their lives to intimate partner violence in 2023 alone. There’s no excuse for violence against women. As we advocate for a world free from gender-based violence, we must recognise the unique vulnerabilities of women with disabilities. This requires ensuring access to justice, inclusive support services, and policies that prioritise their safety and dignity. Together, we can dismantle the systems that perpetuate violence and build a future where every woman, regardless of ability, lives free from fear and harm. Learn more about our work at the link in the comments. #16Days #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #SilentTears

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, CBM urges governments and development organisations to prioritise the meaningful participation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in all programming. As we look ahead to the Global Disability Summit 2025, we must ensure proper financing, thorough collaboration, and intersectional representation. When OPDs lead, we see better policies, stronger communities, and real change. However, without secured financing, critical progress—like the implementation of inclusive policies and services—could stall, leaving persons with disabilities excluded from opportunities to thrive. It’s time to make inclusion the norm, not the exception. Learn more about the role OPDs play in inclusive and sustainable development at the link in the comments below. #IDPWD2024 #GlobalDisabilitySummit2025 #InclusivePolicy #FinanceForInclusion

#InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities Projects are more effective when they involve persons with disabilities from the start. Last year, CBM worked with 255 organisations of persons with disabilities to develop inclusive projects, impacting 62.2 million people globally. This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re calling for more data-driven approaches that centre the voices of those who know their needs best. Let’s build a future where no one is left behind. #IDPWD2024 #InclusiveProgramming #DataDrivenDecisions #DevelopmentImpact

#InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities As we approach the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reflect on why inclusive development is essential. Nogning Armelle Aimerique, the Chair of the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities in Cameroon reminds us that persons with disabilities know their challenges best: “When we’re involved, we can find the right solutions.” At CBM, we are proud to collaborate with over 255 Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), ensuring their voices are integral to shaping projects that change lives. Stay tuned for more stories of impact. #IDPWD2024 #InclusionMatters #Leadership #DisabilityInclusion

NEWS: CBM is offering ten fully funded scholarships for African doctors to pursue postgraduate degrees in Ophthalmology for the 2024/2025 academic year. This initiative aims to improve eye care services and address the shortage of trained professionals in underserved communities. For details on how to apply, go to the comments section. #scholarships, #Ophthalmology, #EyeCare, #Africa, #blindness #apply

CBM and International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC are co-hosting a hybrid event to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2024. The event is titled "From Legal Frameworks and Guidelines to Practice: Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action." This is a joint initiative between CBM and ICRC, as part of our official collaboration under the #LeaveNoOneBehind! Phase 3 project. Please register to attend online or in person at the ICRC Humanitarium in Geneva, Switzerland Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024  Time: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM CET  

In 2023, CBM expanded its humanitarian efforts, delivering critical support to more people across 23 countries through 59 projects. With an investment of over €9.9 million, CBM addressed crises, including natural disasters, conflicts, and refugee emergencies. From distributing cash assistance and food security interventions in Malawi after Cyclone Freddy to enhancing rehabilitation services in war-torn Ukraine, CBM prioritised inclusive, accessible aid for persons with disabilities. These efforts illustrate CBM's commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in times of crisis. Learn more from our 2024 report at the link in comments below. #HumanitarianAction #Aid #Emergency