A Lighthouse Project: UAE-Sierra Leone partnership restores sight—and dignity—to thousands

In Sierra Leone, where cataract has left tens of thousands in darkness, a humanitarian alliance is casting a beam of hope. The Noor Dubai Foundation, in partnership with Choithram International Foundation and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, has completed the first phase of a three-year cataract outreach programme—bringing sight to those long left behind.

The statistics make for grim reading: over 43,000 Sierra Leoneans aged 50 and above live with blindness, nearly 60% due to untreated cataracts. Fewer than a third receive surgical care, and women are disproportionately affected. But this initiative is shifting the tide.

Thousands of patients have already undergone screenings and surgeries at Choithram Memorial Hospital in Freetown, supported by Indian specialists from Choithram Netralaya. The programme aims to reach tens of thousands of  screenings and 6,000 surgeries by 2026.

“"Ensuring access to quality eye care is not just about restoring sight—it’s about restoring dignity, independence, and opportunity. Through this initiative, we aim to empower communities by eliminating avoidable blindness and strengthening local ophthalmic capacity for long-term impact. This milestone project is yet another showcase of the strength of UAE’s private-public partnerships towards bringing relief to communities in need, no matter where they are. I thank all our stakeholders, specially Choithram International Foundation for their outstanding contribution,” said Dr Manal Taryam, CEO of Noor Dubai Foundation.

The outreach is timed to avoid the rainy season, with surgical camps running from January to June. Patients receive free transport, meals, lodging, and post-operative care—removing barriers that often keep treatment out of reach.

Crucially, the programme invests in local capacity. Each month, Sierra Leonean ophthalmologists and nurses train under Indian specialists, ensuring the skills remain long after the final surgery.

L.T. Pagarani, Chairman of Choithrams Group, praised the UAE’s leadership for fostering humanitarian partnerships. “Through the Lighthouse Project, we aim to deliver goodness every day,” he said.

Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast are evaluating the programme’s impact on vision, quality of care, and socioeconomic outcomes.

For many, the return of sight is not just a medical milestone—it’s a second chance at life. And for Sierra Leone, this partnership is a lighthouse guiding the way toward equitable healthcare.