This Dhul Hijjah, while millions prepare for the sacred journey of Hajj, countless families in Mauritania are facing a different kind of struggle - living in darkness caused by preventable blindness.

Recently, our team travelled deep into remote communities across Mauritania. The journey between villages took over 13 exhausting hours under scorching, humid heat. Families live in tiny one-room homes and often sleep in tents because the temperatures become unbearable indoors. Many rely on donkeys for transport and animals for survival.

But amidst these harsh conditions, we witnessed something even more heartbreaking.

Here, children are losing their sight — and no one is coming to help.

The trees in these regions are covered with sharp thorns and branches. As children play outdoors, many suffer eye injuries that go untreated, leading to infections, trauma, cataracts, and preventable blindness.

Hundreds of patients came forward during our outreach screenings — mothers carrying children in their arms, elderly men led by relatives, and families desperately hoping for treatment they otherwise could never afford.

Yet so many are still waiting.