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September 17, 2026, Douala: IHS Cameroon, part of the IHS Holding Limited (NYSE: IHS) (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, today announced a strategic partnership with Helen Keller Intl to help combat avoidable blindness in the Far North Region of Cameroon.
Aligned with Cameroon’s National Program for the Prevention and Control of Blindness (PNLCé), IHS Cameroon and Helen Keller Intl are launching a cataract surgery project in Maroua. The “CHICA Project” will focus on reducing the cataract surgery backlog and restoring sight to vulnerable communities in the Far North Region by funding 175 cataract surgeries, upgrading local medical skills in cataract surgery, and driving grassroots community awareness.
Cataract remains the leading cause of avoidable blindness in Cameroon, accounting for over 50% of visual impairment among adults. Nationwide, an estimated 30,000 new cases emerge annually, yet only half receive the necessary surgery. This treatment gap is particularly pronounced in the Far North Region, where surveys indicate that only around 28% of diagnosed cataract cases receive surgical intervention due to poverty, lack of awareness, and geographic barriers.1
Key Pillars of the CHICA Project:
Fatim Cisse, CEO, IHS Cameroon &Côte d'Ivoire, commented, "Restoring a person's sight does more than heal an individual—it restores independence, alleviates financial burdens, and revitalizes entire communities. Through the CHICA Project, we are not just funding surgeries; we are partnering with the local health infrastructure to help build a sustainable ecosystem for eye care in the Far North Region."
Prof. Robert Mba, Director, Helen Keller Intl, commented, “Our mission at Helen Keller Intl is to support millions of children and families to create change in their lives, enabling them to reach their full potential. Guided by this commitment, the CHICA Project aligns closely with our vision by restoring sight and improving the quality of life of vulnerable populations living with cataracts in the Far North Region. Through targeted interventions, this initiative will not only address avoidable blindness but also contribute to social and economic inclusion, enabling beneficiaries to regain independence, participate more actively in their communities, and improve their overall well-being. We are proud of this project, which also seeks to align with the Ministry of Public Health’s own strategic drive toward the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.”
[1] PNLCé, Cameroon Health Sector Strategy 2020-2030.
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About IHS Towers: IHS Towers is one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count and is solely focused on the emerging markets. The company has over 28,000 towers across its five markets, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia. For more information, please email: communications@ihstowers.com or visit: www.ihstowers.com
About Helen Keller Intl: Helen Keller Intl is an international NGO, working in 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States, to provide the right support at the right time for 84 million children and family members, so they can discover their true potential. For over 30 years, Helen Keller has been working in Cameroon alongside the government and technical and financial partners to remove barriers to healthcare access and strengthen prevention efforts in the areas of neglected tropical diseases, eye health, and nutrition. For more information, please visit: https://helenkellerintl.org/where-we-work/cameroon/