| Among 1 93 Africans examined for blindness in a survey, 43 were blind due to senile cataract, and 36.9 due to infection traced to the trachoma virus. A comprehensive country-wide programme of prevention and treatment would be difficult to implement in Africa, due to lack of manpower, money, and materials. However, certain steps have been taken. The Kenyan Ministry of Health has engaged African Health Assistants and Health Visitors to provide health education to village groups. The teaching is reinforced in the primary school curriculum. Medical assistants administer treatment of eye infections and cataracts in schools and among pastoral tribes through the use of a Mobile Eye Unit. The Unit is preceded by adequate publicity and spends about 4 days in one place. However, preventive and educative measures for pastoral tribes are unlikely to become effective without a social revolution. |