United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General Alan Doss yesterday met with representatives of Sight Savers International who have opened an office in Monrovia to provide eye health care to Liberians. 
"With the end of the conflict and the election of a new leader, Liberia is now ready to focus on improving older people's access to healthcare," said Special Representative Doss. "I am pleased that Sight Savers International has come to Liberia to address the acute shortage of eye care, especially in rural Liberia," Mr. Doss said. 

Regional Director for Sight Savers International Simon Bush said his organization hopes to concentrate their efforts in Southeast Liberia since there is currently no eye care in that region. Building on their recent success in Sierra Leone, Mr. Bush said Sight Savers will treat blindness and also work with communities to prevent blindness since 75 percent of blindness is preventable. 
Approximately five percent of the Liberian population suffers from severely restricted vision; common ailments include cataract, refractive error and low vision, onchocerciasis, glaucoma and childhood blindness due to a lack of vitamins. 

Special Representative Doss said the United Nations Mission in Liberia will assist Sight Savers International to transport equipment and supplies to Southeast Liberia and agreed to work together in the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure in some clinics in Harper, Maryland County.