Sight 2020 Direct
1088. Andrew Feyi-Waboso
Dr Andrew Feyi-Waboso, from Cardiff, was instrumental in establishing ‘Sight 2020 Direct’, a charity that aims to fight and treat the preventable causes of blindness in the developing world.
This includes cataracts, childhood blindness, refractive errors, low vision and glaucoma. The charity operates in Malawi as an NGO called ‘Onani Eye Foundation’, which is working to establish an eye hospital and rehabilitation centre in the country. The charity has also collaborated with state hospitals in Nigeria providing cataract surgery for blind and visually disabled patients. With his wife, he has introduced blind football into Malawi working with a special needs school in the village of Nguludi. He also ran the London marathon in 2016 while tied to one of his blind patients, so that the pair could raise funds for the charity and ‘Blind Veterans UK’.
In a personal letter to Andrew, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Your ambitious work to fight and treat the preventable causes of blindness is transforming lives in the developing world. Your dedication and commitment to ‘Sight 2020 Direct’ is truly inspirational and I wish you every success as you continue to grow this essential work.”
Andrew said:
“I’m honoured and humbled by this award. I accept it in recognition of our work in the area of preventable blindness and rehabilitation through blind football in Malawi.”