Africa-Press – Botswana. The Countess of Wessex continued her visit to Africa last week, focusing on a cause very close to her heart: vision care and the prevention of blindness.
Sophie began the week in Botswana on behalf of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, of which she is a Global Ambassador. Over the week, she carried out engagements in Botswana and Malawi, culminating in World Sight Day celebrations on 13 October.
During her visit to Botswana, Sophie visited the Molefe Primary School to learn more about the Pono Yame (My Vision) programme that offers eye healthcare screenings, assessments and treatments to schoolchildren.
The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust helped fund an initiative that led to the Pono Yame programme, and Sophie saw first-hand how this programme is helping students in Botswana with healthcare directly related to preventable blindness.
Later in the day on Monday, the Countess of Wessex met with the President of Botswana and attended a reception and dinner to celebrate British and Botswanan relations.
On Wednesday, Sophie arrived in the capital city of Malawi, Lilongwe. That evening she attended a reception to celebrate the elimination of trachoma—a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause vision loss and blindness—within the country.
Thursday, World Sight Day, saw Sophie carrying out engagements with healthcare providers to see how far the country has come in its eye healthcare. She began her day at the Maganga Clinic and then visited medical professionals and those who benefited from eye healthcare at the Mgawi Village.
Finally, Sophie visited the Salima Airstrip to officially celebrate World Sight Day. In a speech, she spoke about the country’s success in eliminating trachoma: “The success we celebrate today means that future generations of Malawians will not have to face the high risk of blindness caused by trachoma – the irritation, the terrible pain, the scarring and the darkness, nor the prospect of not being able to learn, work or cook without help and support.
“Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, my dear mother-in-law, was so proud of the Commonwealth and all that it stood for.
“Last time I returned from Malawi, when I had travelled on her behalf as vice patron of her Trust, I told her all about my visit and she was so moved by the amazing work taking place here.
The Countess continued, saying that Queen Elizabeth II “knew of Malawi’s achievement and was so pleased that this was made possible by the fund, with eyesight being its principal objective. She was so happy for Malawians.”
Following her engagements in Malawi, the Countess of Wessex travelled to Ethiopia for another leg of her African visit.
She has been carrying out engagements in Africa since the beginning of the month, visiting Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, she carried out engagements related to sexual violence in conflict zones and women’s and girls’ rights ahead of the International Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference in London next month.
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