TED2018
Caroline Harper: What if we eliminated one of the world's oldest diseases?
Caroline Harper: I si eliminéssim una de les malalties més antigues del món?
Filmed:
Readability: 3.6
1,399,900 views
Fa milers d'anys, els antics nubis feien dibuixos a les parets de les tombes d'una malaltia terrible que fa que les parpelles es girin del revés i que causi ceguera. Aquesta malaltia, el tracoma, encara avui castiga moltes parts del món, però és completament evitable, diu Caroline Harper. Amb dades d'un projecte global d'identificació, l'organització de Harper, Sightsavers, té un pla: centrar-se en països on el dèficit de finançament impedeix eliminar la malaltia i millorar els intents on la necessitat és més evident.
Llegiu més sobre el seu objectiu d'enviar el tracoma als llibres d'història, i com podeu ajudar. (Aquest pla és una de les primeres idees del projecte Audacious, la nova iniciativa de TED cap a un canvi global).
Caroline Harper - Advocate for visually impaired people
At Sightsavers, an international NGO, Caroline Harper leads efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness around the world and fight for equal rights. Full bio
At Sightsavers, an international NGO, Caroline Harper leads efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness around the world and fight for equal rights. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
I'd like you to imagine,
just for a moment,
just for a moment,
0
1380
3238
Voldria que imaginéssiu per un moment
00:16
that your eyelashes grew inwards
instead of outwards,
instead of outwards,
1
4642
5054
que les pestanyes us creixen
cap endins en comptes d'enfora,
cap endins en comptes d'enfora,
00:21
so that every time you blinked,
2
9720
2301
i que cada cop que pestanyegeu
00:24
they would scrape
the front of your eyeballs,
the front of your eyeballs,
3
12045
3096
us rasquen la part frontal dels ulls
00:27
damaging the corneas,
4
15165
1777
i us fan malbé les còrnies.
00:28
so that slowly and painfully,
you went blind.
you went blind.
5
16966
3720
Lentament i amb dolor,
us aniríeu tornant cecs.
us aniríeu tornant cecs.
00:33
Well, that's what happens
to a person who has trachoma.
to a person who has trachoma.
6
21307
3810
Això els passa
a les persones amb tracoma.
a les persones amb tracoma.
00:37
Now, this little boy here, Pamelo,
from Zambia, he has trachoma.
from Zambia, he has trachoma.
7
25607
5169
Aquest nen, en Pamelo de Zambia,
té tracoma.
té tracoma.
00:42
And if we don't do anything,
he's going to go blind.
he's going to go blind.
8
30800
3443
I si no fem res, es tornarà cec.
00:46
Trachoma is a curious disease.
9
34700
2192
El tracoma és una malaltia curiosa.
00:48
It's a bacterial infection
that's passed from person to person
that's passed from person to person
10
36916
4160
És una infecció bacteriana
que passa de persona a persona
que passa de persona a persona
00:53
and by flies.
11
41100
1421
i per les mosques.
00:55
The repeated infection
will scar your eyelids
will scar your eyelids
12
43057
3814
La infecció constant provoca
ferides a les parpelles
ferides a les parpelles
00:58
so that they contract
and they turn inside out.
and they turn inside out.
13
46895
4318
que es contrauen
i es pleguen cap endins.
i es pleguen cap endins.
01:03
It particularly affects women,
14
51879
1912
Especialment afecta a les dones
01:05
because they have
the contact with children.
the contact with children.
15
53815
2356
perquè són les que tenen contacte
amb els nens.
amb els nens.
01:08
So what you'll often see
in places like Ethiopia
in places like Ethiopia
16
56569
3524
Sovint a llocs com Etiòpia es veuen
01:12
are girls who have tweezers
like this around their necks,
like this around their necks,
17
60117
4728
noies amb pinces com aquesta
penjades al coll,
penjades al coll,
01:16
and they use them
to pluck out their eyelashes.
to pluck out their eyelashes.
18
64869
3117
amb les quals s'arrenquen les pestanyes.
01:20
But of course, that only gives them
temporary respite,
temporary respite,
19
68482
2644
Però això només els dóna
un descans temporal
un descans temporal
01:23
because they just grow back
more vicious than before.
more vicious than before.
20
71150
3559
perquè tornen a créixer
més fortes que abans.
més fortes que abans.
01:27
There are around two million
people in the world
people in the world
21
75538
4078
Hi ha gairebé dos milions
de persones al món
de persones al món
01:31
who are blind or visually impaired
because of trachoma.
because of trachoma.
22
79640
3063
que són cegues o deficients visuals
a causa del tracoma.
a causa del tracoma.
01:35
And we believe there may be
as many as 200 million people
as many as 200 million people
23
83283
4342
I es creu que pot haver-hi
uns 200 milions de persones
uns 200 milions de persones
01:39
who are at risk.
24
87649
1150
que estan en risc.
01:41
Now, it's a very old disease.
25
89418
2285
És una malaltia molt antiga.
01:44
What you can see is a photo
of a wall of a tomb in Northern Sudan.
of a wall of a tomb in Northern Sudan.
26
92188
5108
Podeu veure una foto de la paret
d'una tomba al nord del Sudan.
d'una tomba al nord del Sudan.
01:49
A colleague and I were traveling
in a very remote village,
in a very remote village,
27
97855
2972
Un company i jo viatjàvem
per una vila remota
per una vila remota
01:52
and we asked an old man
to take us down into a little tomb.
to take us down into a little tomb.
28
100851
3537
i vam demanar que ens portessin
a una petita tomba.
a una petita tomba.
01:56
Now, on the wall, we saw two eyes.
29
104955
2850
A la paret vam veure dos ulls.
01:59
One is crying,
30
107829
1316
Un d'ells plorava
02:01
and you can see
there are tweezers next to it.
there are tweezers next to it.
31
109169
2588
i veieu les pinces al costat.
02:04
Simon said to me, "My God,
do you think that's trachoma?"
do you think that's trachoma?"
32
112127
3515
El Simon em va dir: "Déu meu, creus
que això és tracoma?"
que això és tracoma?"
02:08
So we sent this picture
to the British Museum,
to the British Museum,
33
116103
3066
Vam enviar la foto al Museu Britànic
02:11
and they confirmed that, yes,
this is trachoma.
this is trachoma.
34
119523
2931
i van confirmar que sí, que era tracoma.
02:14
So, thousands of years ago,
35
122879
2285
Per tant, fa milers d'anys
02:17
the ancient Nubians
were painting pictures of trachoma
were painting pictures of trachoma
36
125188
3826
els antics nubis pintaven tracoma
02:21
on the walls of their tomb.
37
129038
1864
a les parets de les tombes.
02:22
And the tragedy is
38
130926
2000
I la tragèdia és
02:24
that disease is still rampant
in that area today.
in that area today.
39
132950
3322
que la malaltia segueix descontrolada
en aquesta àrea avui en dia.
en aquesta àrea avui en dia.
02:28
And the crazy thing is,
we know how to stop it.
we know how to stop it.
40
136980
3549
El que és pitjor,
és que sabem com parar-la.
és que sabem com parar-la.
02:33
And what's great is that the trachoma
community have all come together
community have all come together
41
141171
4877
Per sort la comunitat del tracoma
s'ha ajuntat
s'ha ajuntat
02:38
to pool their efforts.
42
146072
1765
per sumar els seus esforços.
02:40
We don't compete; we collaborate.
43
148157
3142
No competim, col·laborem.
02:43
I have to tell you,
that's not always the case
that's not always the case
44
151712
2204
He de dir que no sempre és el cas
02:45
in my experience in the NGO world.
45
153940
2614
en la meva experiència al món de les ONG.
02:50
We've created something
46
158149
1823
Hem creat
02:51
called the International Coalition
for Trachoma Control.
for Trachoma Control.
47
159996
3797
la Coalició Internacional
pel Control del Tracoma.
pel Control del Tracoma.
02:56
And together, we've developed
a strategy to fight it.
a strategy to fight it.
48
164298
3924
I junts hem desenvolupat
una estratègia per combatre'l.
una estratègia per combatre'l.
03:00
This strategy is called the SAFE strategy,
49
168719
2945
Aquesta estratègia es diu "SAFE"
03:03
and it's been approved
by the World Health Organization.
by the World Health Organization.
50
171688
3333
i està aprovada per la OMS.
03:07
The "S" stands for "surgery."
51
175434
2364
L'"S" és de "surgery" (cirurgia).
03:10
It's very straightforward procedure
52
178292
2031
És un procediment senzill
03:12
to turn the eyelids back the right way.
53
180347
2363
que torna a posar bé
la parpella endinsada.
la parpella endinsada.
03:15
We train nurses to do it,
54
183141
2000
Entrenem infermeres per fer-ho
03:17
and they use local anesthetics.
55
185165
2047
i usen anestèsia local.
03:19
And as you can see, you can do it
in somebody's front porch, if need be.
in somebody's front porch, if need be.
56
187236
4555
I com veieu, es pot fer a l'entrada
de qualsevol casa, si escau.
de qualsevol casa, si escau.
03:24
Then "A" stands for "antibiotics."
57
192688
2769
L'"A" és d'antibiòtics.
03:27
These are donated by Pfizer,
58
195982
2778
Pfizer els dóna
03:30
who also pay for those drugs
to be transported to the port in-country.
to be transported to the port in-country.
59
198784
4960
i també en paga el transport
fins al port del país.
fins al port del país.
03:35
From there, they're taken to the villages,
60
203768
3286
D'allà, els porten a les viles
03:39
where hundreds of thousands
of community volunteers
of community volunteers
61
207078
4817
on centenars de milers
de voluntaris de la comunitat
de voluntaris de la comunitat
03:43
will distribute those drugs to the people.
62
211919
3032
els distribueixen a la gent.
03:47
Now, we train those volunteers,
63
215696
2437
Formem els voluntaris
03:50
and we also help the ministries
with all that complex logistics.
with all that complex logistics.
64
218157
4064
i ajudem als ministeris
amb les dificultats logístiques.
amb les dificultats logístiques.
03:54
And every one of those volunteers
has a pole like this.
has a pole like this.
65
222819
4837
I tots els voluntaris
tenen un pal com aquest.
tenen un pal com aquest.
04:00
It's called a "dose pole."
66
228526
1734
Se'n diu "pal de dosis".
04:02
This one's from Cameroon.
67
230606
1666
Aquest és de Camerun.
04:04
And you can see it's marked
different colors,
different colors,
68
232759
2430
Com veieu, està marcat
amb diferents colors,
amb diferents colors,
04:07
and you can tell how many pills
you should give somebody,
you should give somebody,
69
235213
3570
on es veu quantes pastilles s'han de donar
04:10
based on how tall they are.
70
238807
1800
segons l'alçada.
04:14
"F" stands for "face washing."
71
242442
2439
L"F" és de "face washing"
(rentar la cara).
(rentar la cara).
04:17
Now, we used to have trachoma
in the UK and in the US.
in the UK and in the US.
72
245498
3698
Abans hi havia tracoma
al Regne Unit i als EUA.
al Regne Unit i als EUA.
04:21
In fact, President Carter,
73
249220
1992
De fet, el president Carter,
04:23
he talks about how trachoma
was a real problem in Georgia
was a real problem in Georgia
74
251236
3817
parla de com el tracoma
era un gran problema a Geòrgia
era un gran problema a Geòrgia
04:27
when he was a little boy.
75
255077
1525
quan ell era petit.
04:29
And in the UK, the famous
eye hospital, Moorfields,
eye hospital, Moorfields,
76
257046
3983
I al Regne Unit, el famós
hospital oftalmològic Moorfields
hospital oftalmològic Moorfields
04:33
was originally a trachoma hospital.
77
261053
2267
era originàriament un hospital de tracoma.
04:36
What we do is teach kids like this
how important it is to wash their faces.
how important it is to wash their faces.
78
264039
5847
El que fem és ensenyar als nens
com és d'important rentar-se la cara.
com és d'important rentar-se la cara.
04:42
And finally, "E" stands for "environment,"
79
270976
3000
Finalment, l'"E" és "environment"
(ambient)
(ambient)
04:46
where we help the communities
build latrines,
build latrines,
80
274000
2880
on ajudem a les comunitats
a construir latrines
a construir latrines
04:48
and we teach them to separate
their animals from their living quarters
their animals from their living quarters
81
276904
3849
i ensenyem a separar els animals
de les zones on viuen
de les zones on viuen
04:52
in order to reduce the fly population.
82
280777
2600
per així reduir el nombre de mosques.
04:56
So we know how to tackle the disease.
83
284190
3277
Sabem doncs com solucionar la malaltia.
04:59
But we need to know where it is.
84
287491
2269
Però hem de saber on és.
05:01
And we do,
85
289784
1374
I ho sabem,
05:03
because a few years ago,
Sightsavers led an incredible program
Sightsavers led an incredible program
86
291182
4603
perquè fa uns anys, Sightsavers
va dirigir un programa increïble
va dirigir un programa increïble
05:07
called the Global Trachoma
Mapping Project.
Mapping Project.
87
295809
2872
que es deia el Projecte Mundial
de Mapes del Tracoma.
de Mapes del Tracoma.
05:11
It took us three years,
88
299158
2305
Vam trigar tres anys,
05:13
but we went through 29 countries,
89
301487
3353
però vam anar a 29 països
05:16
and we taught local health workers
to go district by district,
to go district by district,
90
304864
5048
i vam ensenyar als treballadors de salut
que anessin districte a districte
que anessin districte a districte
05:21
and they examined the eyelids
of over two and a half million people.
of over two and a half million people.
91
309936
5023
per examinar les parpelles de més
de dos milions i mig de persones.
de dos milions i mig de persones.
05:27
And they used Android phones
in order to download the data.
in order to download the data.
92
315380
3917
Van fer servir telèfons Android
per descarregar els arxius.
per descarregar els arxius.
05:31
And from that, we were able to build a map
93
319776
2777
Amb això, vam poder fer un mapa
05:34
that showed us where the disease was.
94
322577
2524
que senyalés on es trobava la malaltia.
05:37
Now, this is a very high-level map
95
325125
2422
Aquest és un mapa general
05:39
that shows you which countries
had a problem with trachoma.
had a problem with trachoma.
96
327571
3785
que mostra quins països tenen
problemes amb el tracoma.
problemes amb el tracoma.
05:43
And you may ask me,
"Well, does this strategy actually work?"
"Well, does this strategy actually work?"
97
331380
3831
Potser us pregunteu: "Però realment
funciona aquesta estratègia?"
funciona aquesta estratègia?"
05:47
Yes, it does.
98
335634
1190
Sí que funciona.
05:49
This map shows you the progress
that we've made to date.
that we've made to date.
99
337426
3353
Aquest mapa mostra el progrés
que hem fet fins ara.
que hem fet fins ara.
05:52
The green countries believe
they've already eliminated trachoma,
they've already eliminated trachoma,
100
340803
4072
Els països verds confien
que han eliminat el tracoma,
que han eliminat el tracoma,
05:56
and they have either been through
or are in the process of
or are in the process of
101
344899
2984
i bé han estat o estan en procés
05:59
having that validated by the WHO.
102
347907
2711
que la OMS ho validi.
06:02
Countries in yellow
have the money they need,
have the money they need,
103
350642
2627
Els països en groc
tenen els diners que necessiten,
tenen els diners que necessiten,
06:05
they have the resources
to eliminate trachoma.
to eliminate trachoma.
104
353293
3270
i tenen els medis per eliminar el tracoma.
06:08
And some of them are really nearly there.
105
356937
2477
I alguns d'ells gairebé ja hi són.
06:11
But the red countries,
they don't have enough funding.
they don't have enough funding.
106
359795
3079
Però els països en vermell
no tenen suficients fons.
no tenen suficients fons.
06:14
They cannot eliminate trachoma
unless they get more.
unless they get more.
107
362898
3365
No poden eliminar-lo
a no ser que n'obtinguin més.
a no ser que n'obtinguin més.
06:18
And we're quite concerned, though,
that the progress to date may stall.
that the progress to date may stall.
108
366721
4386
I ens preocupa
que el progrés s'aturi.
que el progrés s'aturi.
06:23
So when we were talking
to the Audacious ideas guys,
to the Audacious ideas guys,
109
371857
4777
Per això, quan parlàvem
amb els nois d'Audacious,
amb els nois d'Audacious,
06:28
we asked ourselves:
110
376658
1786
ens vam preguntar:
06:30
If we really, really pushed ourselves
over the next four or five years
over the next four or five years
111
378468
4468
Si de veritat ens esforcéssim
en els propers quatre o cinc anys
en els propers quatre o cinc anys
06:34
and we had the money,
112
382960
1833
i tinguéssim els diners,
06:36
what do we think we could achieve?
113
384817
2047
què creiem que podem aconseguir?
06:39
Well, we believe
that we can eliminate trachoma
that we can eliminate trachoma
114
387523
4849
Creiem que podem eliminar el tracoma
06:44
in 12 African countries
115
392396
2420
als 12 països africans
06:47
and across the Americas
116
395245
3176
i arreu d'Amèrica
06:50
and all across the Pacific.
117
398445
2252
i arreu del Pacífic.
06:53
And we can make significant progress
118
401150
3022
I podem fer un progrés important
06:56
in two countries which have
the highest burden of the disease,
the highest burden of the disease,
119
404196
3795
en dos països que tenen
l'índex més alt de la malaltia,
l'índex més alt de la malaltia,
07:00
which is Ethiopia and Nigeria.
120
408015
2770
que són Etiòpia i Nigèria.
07:03
And in doing all of that,
121
411237
2072
I fent-ho
07:05
we can leverage more than two
billion dollars' worth of donated drugs.
billion dollars' worth of donated drugs.
122
413333
5682
podem utilitzar més de dos mil milions
de dòlars en donacions de medecines.
de dòlars en donacions de medecines.
07:11
(Applause)
123
419039
6214
(Aplaudiments)
07:17
Now, this map here shows you
the impact that we'll have --
the impact that we'll have --
124
425277
2776
Aquest mapa
mostra l'impacte que tindríem...
mostra l'impacte que tindríem...
07:20
look how many countries are going green.
125
428077
2318
Mireu quants països passen al verd.
07:22
And there, you can see progress
in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
126
430419
3048
I podeu veure com progressen
Etiòpia i Nigèria.
Etiòpia i Nigèria.
07:25
Now, yes, there are some countries
that are still red.
that are still red.
127
433491
2921
I, sí, hi ha alguns països
encara en vermell.
encara en vermell.
07:28
These are mainly countries
which are in conflict --
which are in conflict --
128
436436
2801
Són principalment
països en guerra...
països en guerra...
07:31
places like Yemen, South Sudan --
where it's very difficult to work.
where it's very difficult to work.
129
439261
3789
Llocs com el Iemen, Sudan del Sud...
on és difícil treballar.
on és difícil treballar.
07:35
So, we have the team,
the strategy and the map.
the strategy and the map.
130
443555
4785
Tenim l'equip, l'estratègia i el mapa.
07:40
And we also have the relationships
with the governments
with the governments
131
448364
4072
També tenim les relacions amb els governs
07:44
so that we can make sure
that our program is coordinated
that our program is coordinated
132
452460
3902
per assegurar-nos
que coordinen el programa
que coordinen el programa
07:48
with other disease-control programs,
133
456386
2287
amb d'altres de control de malalties,
07:50
so that we can be efficient.
134
458697
1867
perquè sigui eficient.
07:53
Wouldn't it be amazing
if we could do this?
if we could do this?
135
461449
4231
No seria fantàstic poder fer-ho?
07:57
We'd have trachoma on the run.
136
465704
2254
Faríem que desaparegués el tracoma.
07:59
We would be on the home straight
137
467982
2335
Estaríem a la recta final
08:02
to eliminate this disease
from the whole world.
from the whole world.
138
470341
3374
per eliminar la malaltia de tot el món.
08:06
But before I finish,
I just want to share with you
I just want to share with you
139
474800
2913
Però abans d'acabar, vull compartir
08:09
some words from
the founder of Sightsavers,
the founder of Sightsavers,
140
477737
2503
unes paraules del creador de Sightsavers,
08:12
a guy called Sir John Wilson.
141
480264
2283
un home que es diu Sir John Wilson.
08:14
Now, he was blinded at the age of 12.
142
482571
2393
Es va quedar cec amb 12 anys.
08:16
And he said,
143
484988
1297
I va dir:
08:18
"People don't go blind by the million.
144
486309
2600
"La gent no es queda cega
de milió en milió
de milió en milió
08:21
They go blind one by one."
145
489468
2698
sinó un per un".
08:24
And in the excitement of being able to say
146
492658
2544
I amb l'alegria de poder dir
08:27
we've got rid of trachoma
for the whole country,
for the whole country,
147
495226
3424
que hem eliminat el tracoma
de tot el país,
de tot el país,
08:30
let's not forget that, actually,
this is a devastating disease
this is a devastating disease
148
498674
4619
no oblidem que realment
és una terrible malaltia
és una terrible malaltia
08:35
that destroys the lives
of individual people.
of individual people.
149
503317
3038
que destrossa la vida
de les persones.
de les persones.
08:39
People like Twiba.
150
507156
1501
Gent com la Twiba.
08:40
Now, I met Twiba last year in Tanzania.
151
508681
2600
La vaig conèixer l'any passat a Tanzània.
08:43
She had had trachoma
for as long as she could remember.
for as long as she could remember.
152
511618
3245
Tenia tracoma
des que recordava.
des que recordava.
08:46
And a couple of months before I met her,
she'd had the operation.
she'd had the operation.
153
514887
3406
I la van operar un parell de mesos
abans de conèixer-la.
abans de conèixer-la.
08:50
It's no exaggeration to say
154
518660
2474
No exagero quan dic
08:53
that this had totally
transformed her life.
transformed her life.
155
521158
3293
que va canviar-li la vida completament.
08:57
We'd saved the sight that she had left,
and she was free of pain.
and she was free of pain.
156
525198
3983
Vam salvar la vista que li quedava
i ja no sentia dolor.
i ja no sentia dolor.
09:01
She could sleep.
157
529515
1532
Podia dormir.
09:03
She could work, she could socialize.
158
531071
2158
Podia treballar, socialitzar.
09:05
And she said to me,
159
533848
1300
I em va dir:
09:08
"I have my life back."
160
536222
1888
"He recuperat la meva vida".
09:10
And it was impossible
not to be moved by her story.
not to be moved by her story.
161
538587
3466
Era impossible no commoure's
amb la seva història.
amb la seva història.
09:14
But there are so many Twibas.
162
542445
2317
Però hi ha moltes Twibas.
09:16
I want to find all the Twibas,
163
544786
2540
Vull trobar totes les Twibas
09:19
and I don't want anyone
to go blind in agony anymore.
to go blind in agony anymore.
164
547350
3272
i no vull que ningú més
es torni cec amb dolor.
es torni cec amb dolor.
09:23
Now, you know, there are so many
intractable problems in this world.
intractable problems in this world.
165
551138
5165
Sabeu que al món
hi ha molts problemes intractables.
hi ha molts problemes intractables.
09:29
But this is not one of them.
166
557333
1720
Però aquest no ho és.
09:31
This is something that we can solve.
167
559602
2952
Aquest es pot resoldre.
09:34
And we can ensure
168
562983
1500
I podem garantir
09:36
that kids like this can grow up
free from the fear of trachoma.
free from the fear of trachoma.
169
564507
5268
que els nens com aquests
poden créixer sense por al tracoma.
poden créixer sense por al tracoma.
09:42
So, for the sake of kids like this,
170
570261
3365
Pel bé de nens com aquests
09:45
and for the sake of people like Twiba,
171
573650
2387
i pel bé de gent com la Twiba,
09:48
let's get rid of trachoma.
172
576849
2503
desfem-nos del tracoma.
09:52
Do you think we can?
173
580391
2111
Creieu que podem?
09:55
Well, yeah, if we really, really want to.
174
583010
2667
Doncs sí, si realment ho volem.
09:58
Yes, we can.
175
586121
1486
Sí que podem.
10:00
So thank you.
176
588060
1167
Gràcies.
10:01
(Applause)
177
589251
5507
(Aplaudiments)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Caroline Harper - Advocate for visually impaired peopleAt Sightsavers, an international NGO, Caroline Harper leads efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness around the world and fight for equal rights.
Why you should listen
Dr. Caroline Harper's ultimate goal is to see herself out of a job. She runs Sightsavers, an organization with global offices that strives to eliminate avoidable blindness and ensure that people with disabilities have equal rights. Up to 75 percent of sight loss can be cured or prevented, and her team hopes to achieve their goals so spectacularly that the organization is no longer needed.
Harper worked in the gas industry until 2002, before co-founding a management business that specialized on turnaround sales of energy companies. But during what she describes as a mid-life gap year, she visited a number of developing countries and felt drawn to international development. "My own family has a lot of blindness, so the mission of Sightsavers really resonated for me," she said. "I have now been its CEO for 13 years, and every year something more incredible happens. The best moments are when I visit some of the countries where we work, sit with people in their communities and realize that what we do has a massive impact. I am so lucky."
Harper is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her work to protect the sight of people in developing countries. Sightsavers works with a range of partners and is supported by organizations such as The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and UK aid through the UK government's Department for International Development.
Caroline Harper | Speaker | TED.com