CBM UK is part of CBM International, a leading medical agency recognised by the World Health Organisation. Working on 1000 projects in more than 100 countries on three continents CBM always works with local partners, often a church, social group or Health Departments. There are an estimated 50 million blind people in the world, 90% of them live in developing countries. 600 people go blind every hour.

There are four main causes of blindness

1. CATARACT - 20 million people have lost their sight from cataract. An operation restores the precious gift of sight at an average cost of £20, including an interocular lens.

2. TRACHOMA - 150 million people are suffering in daily agony from this blinding eye infection. As the infection developes the eyelashes grow inward, causing painful scouring of the eye with every blink. 6 million people have gone irrevocably blind as a result. Eye ointment costing around £2.50 is enough to give preventative treatment to a whole family.

3. VITIMIN A DEFICIENCY - affects 500,000 children every year and many of them die. Yet it costs only 30p to provide a child with 3 vitamin capsules a year.

4. RIVER BLINDNESS. - 17 million people are infected. The disease can be stopped by means of a drug called Mectizan® . Which CBM distributes in cooperation with the W.H.O.

Trudie Goodwin (Sergeant June Ackland, in The Bill) has been to see CBM in action. A DVD of her visit and other literature regarding the work of CBM are available. visit http://www.cbmuk.org.uk/ for a full report of this charities world-wide activities.

Matthew 20 : ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” ³²Jesus stopped and called to them. “What do you want me to do for you” ³³“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” ³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him.

Derek Fielding