Alcon’s charity contributes to help eye care in Africa

Alcon’s charity, the Alcon Foundation, hopes a recent grant will contribute towards educating staff so they can improve eye care in a developing region.

The company has donated $50,000 (34,167 pounds) to the training component of the Mercury Vision programme for its project Africa Mercy.

During the 30 years Alcon has partnered with the organisation, the business has donated pharmaceuticals and medical equipment to help volunteers and trainees address preventable blindness.

Sara Woodward, director of the company’s corporate humanitarian services, explained the firm shares the charity’s aim at educating medical professionals in the developing world so they can help those who need it most.

“Mercy Ships’ vision of training local ophthalmologists to serve the eye care needs of their own communities will help create sustainable eye care delivery in some of the most underserved regions of Africa,” she remarked.

The Alcon Foundation was set up to give special attention and consideration to programmes and schemes that improve the education and skill level of professionals working in the eye care field.