Our Projects
Each project reflects our commitment to quality and innovation.
Our Projects
Our Stunning Projects
Project One
Implementing Organization: Somaliland Prevention of Blindness Organization (SOPOBO)
Partners:
•Adal Medical University, Borama
•Aden Adde International University (AAIU), Mogadishu
Date: January 2025
Location: Hargeisa, Somaliland
Description:
As part of our mission to build sustainable eye care systems in Somaliland and beyond, SOPOBO facilitated the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Adal Medical University and Aden Adde International University. This collaboration marks a historic step toward strengthening optometry education and fostering academic partnerships between northern and southern Somalia.
Objectives:
•To enhance training and capacity-building in the field of optometry.
•To promote academic exchange and joint research.
•To support the development of standardized curricula and teaching resources.
•To create pathways for student and faculty mobility.
Key Outcome:
The MoU was officially signed at Adal Medical University’s Hargeisa campus in January 2025. This agreement establishes a framework for long-term academic cooperation that will benefit future eye care professionals across the region.
Leadership:
This project was led by Dr. Ahmed Eid, Executive Director of SOPOBO, with strong support from:
•Dr. Ahmed Mumin, Vice President of Adal Medical University
•Dr. Maxamed Cabdulqaadir Qaliif, Deputy Director of AAIU’s Faculty of Optometry
Impact:
This collaboration lays the foundation for future joint initiatives, including:
•Faculty exchange programs
•Clinical internship placements
•Joint community outreach and eye screening campaigns
•Curriculum development workshops
Project Two
School Vision Screening Program – 2022
Implemented by the Somaliland Prevention of Blindness Organization (SOPOBO)
Location: Hargeisa, Somaliland
Year: 2022
Overview:
As part of our mission to protect the eyesight of future generations, SOPOBO conducted a targeted school vision screening campaign aimed at identifying and addressing visual impairments in school-aged children.
Objective:
To detect vision problems early among primary school children and refer those with visual impairments to appropriate eye care services.
Key Activities:
•1,000 students screened across multiple schools in Hargeisa
•Visual acuity assessments and basic eye health education
•Referral of children with suspected eye conditions to Hargeisa Group Hospital for further evaluation and treatment
SOPOBO’s Role:
•Planning and organizing the campaign in collaboration with school administrators
•Deploying trained optometrists and volunteers to conduct screenings
•Providing awareness sessions for students and teachers about eye health
•Coordinating referral pathways and follow-up with local hospitals
Impact:
•Early identification of children with refractive errors and other vision issues
•Increased awareness of eye health among teachers and parents
•Strengthened the link between schools and local eye care services
Project Three
1. Community Cataract and Eye Screening Campaign – 2023
Partners: Hargeisa Group Hospital
Location: Hargeisa and surrounding areas
Year: 2023
Overview:
In 2023, the Somaliland Prevention of Blindness Organization (SOPOBO), in collaboration with Hargeisa Group Hospital, implemented a large-scale eye health campaign focused on screening, treatment, and cataract surgeries.
Key Activities:
•5,126 patients screened for various eye conditions
•Free medications and spectacles provided to those in need
•363 cataract surgeries successfully performed, restoring sight to individuals suffering from preventable blindness
Impact:
•Early detection of common eye diseases (refractive errors, conjunctivitis, glaucoma)
•Improved quality of life for hundreds of patients with restored vision
•Increased public awareness of the importance of eye health
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2. Cataract and Vision Screening Outreach – 2024
Partners: Hargeisa Group Hospital
Location: Hargeisa
Year: 2024
Overview:
Building on the success of the 2023 campaign, SOPOBO continued its mission to fight avoidable blindness through another round of community outreach and surgical intervention.
Key Activities:
•4,000 patients screened through mobile and hospital-based outreach
•300 cataract surgeries performed free of charge
•Follow-up care and visual rehabilitation support provided
Impact:
•Sustained reduction in cataract-related visual impairment
•Strengthened partnerships with local healthcare institutions
•Expanded community trust and demand for eye care services
A Future Where Vision Is a Right
SOPOBO leads community-driven efforts to make quality eye care accessible, treating vision not as a privilege, but a fundamental right for all.