On March 28, local optometrist Brian Duvall will travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a health care initiative undertaken by the Paul Carlson Partnership (PCP). Duvall is the leader of the organization’s eye care focus group, working to establish a successful, long-term medical eye care, cataract surgery, and eyeglasses programs.

Duvall will work in Équateur Provence in the area Ubangi River in Northwest Congo. This is the poorest region of the country.

It is estimated that 1 percent of people in Africa have blindness related to untreated cataracts, and another 1 percent are functionally blind due to the lack of eyeglasses. Lack of roads, transportation and basic power needs in the area create another barrier to care.

The PCP will partner with the Congolese and help rebuild the health care infrastructure decimated by 20 years of civil war. Drawing on previous experience from mission work in Mexico and Guatemala, Duvall will provide care to patients and training health care providers.

Duvall is clinical director at Snoqualmie Valley Eyecare. For more information, contact him at brian.duvall@see20-20.com or call (425)831-2020.