Africa – a continent in the fight against poverty

No person should be marginalised because of a disability when preventative measures can be implemented. This principle has guided Christian Blind Mission (CBM) for over a century. Through our programmes in Africa, we strive to fundamentally and permanently improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. It is possible to disrupt the cycle of poverty and disability prevalent in low and middle-income countries. We are dedicated to this mission alongside our partners.

Countless people in Africa live in great need

© CBM/Ackermann

A substantial proportion of the population in Africa lives below the poverty line, defined as surviving on less than $1.90 per day. In Tanzania specifically, this condition affects nearly half of the population.

The factors contributing to high poverty rates are numerous and complex. Extreme weather events frequently ravage agricultural harvests, thereby jeopardising essential food supplies. This situation leads to malnutrition, which can cause severe physical and Intellectual disabilities. In addition, inadequate access to clean water and poor hygiene standards present considerable health risks.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2018, only one doctor exists for every 10,000 people in Tanzania. The limited number of hospitals are often far from those in need, rendering medical treatment largely inaccessible.

Once people become trapped in poverty, their prospects for achieving a better future become severely limited. This predicament is exacerbated for persons with disabilities, who are disproportionately affected by poverty. To mitigate these challenges, CBM is actively supporting various projects throughout Africa.

CBM projects

  • 1967 CBM has been active on the African continent since 1967.

  • 250 CBM supports aid projects in Africa (as of 2023).

  • 21 CBM supports persons with disabilities in 21 African countries (as of 2023).

© CBM/Hartung
Thanks to the support of donors, Ghana is now trachoma-free. In other African countries, however, the fight against the dangerous eye disease continues. Here, CBM regularly performs eyelid surgery. Medina (right) from Ethiopia can still see in her right eye thanks to such an operation.

In Africa, a significant number of people are affected by disabilities, with visual impairments being particularly prevalent. CBM provides inclusive eye health services to persons with visual impairments,

In Cameroon, we facilitated the establishment of the Magrabi ICO Cameroon Eye Institute (MICEI), the country’s inaugural eye clinic capable of managing complicated eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma. Furthermore, through comprehensive control programmes, we have played a pivotal role in making Ghana trachoma-free.

Additionally, we have contributed to enhancing health systems concerning ear, nose, and throat (ENT). In Zambia, for instance, CBM has actively participated in implementing a national ENT strategy that has proven effective. In Malawi, we have supported an ENT clinic where, for the first time, ear surgeries are being performed by specialists who have received specialised training. Such accomplishments are made possible with the support of our donors.

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