About

Background

NSEC emerged as a result of a passion for eye health and a strong desire to provide comprehensive eye health services to Liberians. Starting in 2006, Robert F. Dolo and Kartee Karloweah, in association with Unite for Sight, worked for the Crystal Eye Clinic in Ghana providing community eye health services. They were always aware that the need for this type of service was greater in Liberia. In 2009 they both made the decision to voluntarily relinquish their jobs to return to Liberia and offer these much needed services to their beloved homeland. They reached out to friends within Liberia and abroad to help in achieving the vision and together they worked to make this vision a reality.

The first critical step was taken by the NSEC incorporators who provided the necessary start-up funding to complete all the documentation. The NSEC Board of Directors volunteered their expertise to guide the planning and development of the program. The Sinkor Rotary, in partnership with Newtown Rotary (Connecticut, USA) and Rotary International awarded a Global Grant to fund the equipment and medicine needed. Friends from as far away as Australia, Canada and the US, and as close by as Monrovia, ranging from physicians to medical researchers to classroom students, added what support they could so that the New Sight Eye Center could become a reality.

Goal

To provide affordable, accessible, available, comprehensive and quality eye health care services for all.

Mission

To reduce preventable blindness and visual impairment in rural and urban communities within Liberia through community based eye health services, sight restoring surgery and eye health education.

Eye Care Need in Liberia

A rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Liberia was conducted by the Ministry of Social Health and Welfare in 2012.

Objectives

Provide routine quality eye examination, treatment and surgery.
Perform modern cataract surgery and ensure that 100% of intraocular lenses implanted will restore sight to all patients.
Make eye health available, affordable and accessible to deprived individuals, families and underserved communities through regular eye screening and treatment.
Assist in the organization, planning and implementation of ophthalmic research in Liberia as well as collaborate with other local and international research groups.
Promote eye health education and conduct eye screening, treatment and refractive services in schools and universities.
Seek sponsorships for local volunteers training as a means of capacity building and youth empowerment.

Engage in activities geared towards poverty reduction, capacity building, community empowerment and sustainability.