Letter: Thank You, Jeety, for Bringing Eye Care Closer to Rural Liberia

Published: November 12, 2026

Dear Dr. Sachdeva (Jeety),

Thank you for establishing an eye clinic in Weala, Margibi County. Your investment addresses an important public health challenge in Liberia, where many people struggle with preventable or treatable eye conditions, particularly in rural communities. According to the 2024 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness, conducted with Liberia’s Ministry of Health and supported by Sightsavers, an estimated 4.4 percent of Liberians aged 50 and above are blind.

The assessment examined 3,868 people in this age group and estimated that approximately 21,776 older Liberians nationwide are affected. Untreated cataracts accounted for 59.4 percent of bilateral blindness, while glaucoma accounted for another 18.1 percent. These figures are particularly troubling because many cases of cataract-related blindness can be treated through surgery, while other vision problems can be addressed through early diagnosis, medication or corrective eyeglasses. In other words, some Liberians are losing their sight not simply because treatment does not exist, but because the services they need remain beyond their reach.

The geographical inequality in healthcare access makes this problem even more concerning. Liberia’s National Eye Health Policy reported that cataract surgery services were available in only six of the country’s fifteen counties at the time of its assessment. Furthermore, just one percent of the 568 health facilities assessed reported providing cataract surgery services. The 2024 assessment provides further evidence of the barriers ordinary Liberians face. Among participants who had not undergone cataract surgery, 30.6 percent identified lack of access to surgery as the reason, 28.6 percent cited cost, and 17.3 percent did not know that treatment was possible.

This is why your decision to establish the Guru Nanak Eye Clinic at the Jeety Rubber Health Center in Weala deserves recognition. It brings essential eye-care services closer to residents of Margibi County and neighboring counties who might otherwise have to travel to Monrovia for examinations and treatment. Equally important is the clinic’s commitment to affordable services. As reported by the media, eyeglasses will be available at considerably reduced prices, while certain eye surgeries will cost no more than US$25. Such affordability is particularly important for low-income families who might otherwise postpone treatment or go without it altogether. Your investment is therefore not simply about establishing another healthcare facility; it is about making essential eye care more accessible to people who need it most.

Thank you, Dr. Jeety, for recognizing this need and bringing eye-care services closer to those who need them.

Sincerely yours,
Robin Dopoe and Joeraisee Joe