The Countess of Wessex visits Malawi
Published
This week The Countess of Wessex is in Malawi to visit the work being done by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to end avoidable blindness, champion youth leadership and celebrate Commonwealth Week.
During her visit The Countess has met victims of child sex trafficking and domestic violence at Lilongwe Police Victim Support Unit.
The unit aims to reduce violence against vulnerable people and to increase access to quality justice services. The Countess was able to chat to the staff and learn about the services they provide which includes counselling, child support and shelter for women and children.
The Countess is the Vice Patron of The Trust which is a charitable foundation established in 2012 to celebrate The Queen's 60 year contribution to the Commonwealth. This Royal visit started on Commonwealth Day and The Countess attended a reception to celebrate.
One of the Trust's main aims is to help eliminate blinding trachoma which is the world's leading infectious cause of blindness. Up to 2.2 million people are affected worldwide.
In the Kasungo District of Malawi, The Countess met those affected by trachoma and found out how local initiatives have helped reduce trachoma.
At the local hospital The Countess found out about the impact of the Trust's work to build long term capacity in Malawi to deliver quality eye care services.
The Trust has funded many scholarships and fellowships to train eye specialists and develop new technology.
Her Royal Highness witnessed patients benefiting from the new smartphone-based retinal scanning technology, PEEK retina.
