Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Speaks Out on World Sight Day: 'We're Creeping Closer to Our Goal'

The Duchess of Edinburgh is in Ethiopia to support efforts being made to tackle eye disease

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is continuing her visit to Ethiopia on behalf of a favorite cause.

The royal spent a couple of days earlier this week supporting efforts to combat deficiencies in eyesight health, and she said the "incredible goal" of beating the eye disease trachoma by 2030 was very possible thanks to efforts being made in the African country and beyond.

"So much has been achieved both here in Ethiopia and around the world. But now is the time that we must all redouble our efforts if we are to achieve our aim of eliminating trachoma by the year 2030, which is a mere six years away,” Sophie said on Wednesday.

“We must not let ourselves become defocused or complacent," she continued. "We are on the cusp of achieving something almost unimaginable in previous years. Every person involved in this vital work has reason to be so very proud of each and every accomplishment. We are creeping closer to our incredible goal, and I urge you all to keep your eyes on the prize and to make this disease so awful that it is worthy of mention in the Bible a thing of the past and give our communities the gift of sight.”

Sophie was speaking before World Sight Day on Oct. 12, when she took part in celebrations in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

Earlier in the week, she met workers who are carrying vital services helping to protect the vision of children and adults in Hawassa, Ethiopia, with international eye care charity Orbis. There, she was told about how limited access to clean water and sanitation can lead to trachoma, and some of the work being undertaken to screen and treat those with the condition at a primary eye care clinic.

If a patient suffers repeated infections, the condition will cause a person’s eyelids to turn inwards, scraping and damaging the surface with every painful blink. It is particularly prevalent among women, with 70% of cases in Ethiopia impacting women.

Sophie, 58, then headed to a local school, to see how children are screened by teachers for many eye conditions, and where they learn about how to protect themselves from trachoma, through school eye care clubs sharing the information through plays and songs.

At Hawassa Tertiary Eye Care unit, Sophie was taken through the simulation training opportunities – before trying her hand at a mock operation. Eye care teams use virtual reality and cutting-edge prosthetics to develop their skills and confidence safely before taking on real-life surgeries. Guided by the center’s doctors, Sophie got to test her skills in cataract surgery.

Related: Prince William Attends Documentary Screening on Close Cause with Surprise Royal Guest: His Aunt Sophie!

On Wednesday, she took part in a trachoma elimination conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought together over 40 organizations and more than 100 participants who discussed obstacles, successes and future plans, delivering the keynote speech, highlighting the impact of trachoma on women, children, livelihoods and education and the work that has gone the bid to eliminate trachoma by the World Health Organization target of 2030.

Earlier in her visit to Ethiopia, it was another cause that dominated her activities: combating gender-based violence against women in conflict. She visited Sabacare IDP Camp in northern Ethiopia, which cares for more than 16,000 Internally Displaced Persons — many of them women and girls. At Ayder Hospital’s One Stop Centre (OSC) for survivors of gender-based violence, the Duchess was shown the range of medical and counseling treatments that have aided hundreds of women amid the country's humanitarian crisis.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Sophie, who shares daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and son James, Viscount Severn, 14, with her husband Prince Edward, 59,  also visited the Women’s Development Centre, a charity that equips vulnerable women, many of them survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, with skills to lead an independent life with secure employment, the palace said in a press release.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.