“Now my sight has improved, I hope to earn more”

Maria was struggling to make a living because she had advanced trachoma. With the help of Sightsavers’ trachoma elimination project in Zimbabwe, Maria was able to get an eye operation to restore her vision, return to work as a basket weaver and support her family.  

“My eyes were painful and I could not do my everyday work because of the pain. Some eyelashes had grown into my eyes [this happens after repeated bouts of the trachoma infection]. I felt as though there was something prickling in my eyes. They were very painful.

“Life was very difficult for my children. At times they could go the whole day without eating because I could not move around to look for food for them. It was so painful to helplessly watch my children cry because of hunger.

“It was very painful during the operation, but after the removal of the bandage, the pain gradually subsided. My sight is improving; I feel happy because I’m now able to do my household chores. If someone asks me to do a piece job in exchange for food, I can do it.