1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2016
Randall Whicker
(701) 330-9394
Whickerrw06@uww.edu
Ophthalmologist Arrives in Whitewater While on the Road to Eliminating Blindness in Botswana
Entrepreneur and eye surgeon, Dr. Andrew Bastawrous, declares war on blindness around the world.
WHITEWATER, Wisconsin -- A Madison nonprofit, Combat Blindness International (CBI), is bringing
Dr. Andrew Bastawrous to Wisconsin to present at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in April. Combat
Blindness International is partnering with UWW-Enactus to help Dr. Bastawrous create a sustainable
system to eliminate avoidable blindness. Bastawrous plans to begin by removing 100 percent of
preventable cataract blindness in the African country of Botswana. The London-based optometrist is
sharing his progress on fighting blindness in the world at Timmerman Auditorium on April 21, 2016, at 6
p.m.
Eighty percent of blindness in the world occurs in developing countries like Kenya and Botswana.
Bastawrous developed an approach for conducting professional quality eye exams utilizing mobile
technology to bridge the geographic gap between the blind and the doctors who can help them.
Bastawrous noted that, “More people in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa have access to a mobile phone
than they do clean running water.” Because of this, Bastawrous saw an opportunity to create an
inexpensive application and adaptor that allows a smartphone to replace traditional ophthalmic
equipment. Using this technology, trained screeners are able to perform an eye exam anywhere in the
world for $42. Bastawrous is teaming up with people and organizations around the world, including
UWW-Enactus, to create a sustainable business model to prevent and cure blindness.
“They were blind, now they can see. We can change their whole world, their lives,” UWW-Enactus
project lead Adam Schubert said in a statement.
The students of UWW-Enactus are working with Combat Blindness International to help create a new life
for those affected by blindness in the world. These students have already developed training programs for
the blind in India and now they are helping CBI to create a sustainable model for funding Dr. Bastawrous’
work in Africa. Bastawrous and his network are working tirelessly to end blindness because, “it is only in
statistics that people go blind by the millions. The reality is they go blind by themselves.”
-more-

2. Combat Blindness International is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the access and delivery
of eye care to individuals around the world. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin,
CBI has been at the forefront of delivering quality eye care to prevent blindness caused by many factors
such as malnutrition, illness or physical damage. For more information about CBI, visit
www.combatblindness.org, or follow them on facebook at www.facebook.com/combatblindness or
Twitter at @combatblindness.
Enactus is an international nonprofit organization that brings together student, academic and business
leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and
standard of living for people in need. Guided by academic advisers and business experts, the student
leaders of Enactus create and implement community empowerment projects around the globe. The
experience not only transforms lives, it helps students develop the kind of talent and perspective that are
essential to leadership in an ever-more complicated and challenging world. Visit uwwenactus.org for
more information.
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