A 59-year-old man in the Western Bahr el Ghazal State capital Wau, has appealed for support to go abroad for eye surgery after going blind.
John Ariec Mangok, a teacher by profession, told Radio Tamazuj he went blind in 2019 and became jobless consequently yet he has a family to support.
“I have been meeting those who used to come to Wau to carry out eye operations but all in vain. They told me that my eye problem is a complicated case and advised me to go outside the country and recommended Egypt but I do not have money to travel,” he said. “It is very bad indeed because I am the only one taking care of the family, providing clothes, food, and school fees for my children.”
Ariec called on international health partners operating in South Sudan and globally and world wishers to help him to with the surgery in Egypt.
“Please help me contribute money so that I can go to Egypt for my eye operation since the problem has been identified and only requires an operation,” he said. “I have prepared and have my passport, nationality, birth certificate, and all other relevant documents. So, let well-wishers help me with contributions for treatment, transport, feeding, and accommodation.”
According to Ariec, in 2019, he was given approval of USD 24,000 by the National Ministry of Finance and another approval of USD 5,000 by the National Legislative Assembly to go for treatment in Sudan but did not receive the money.
“When I was referred to Sudan in 2019, they approved me funds from the national finance ministry to go for treatment but I severally asked them for the money for one year but nothing was given to me until to struggled to go to Sudan using my means but the operation was not successful due to lack of money,” he explained. “Also, I went to the national assembly and I was given an approval of USD 5,000 and it was also not given to me,”
The distraught blind teacher said he lost his eldest son this year after the latter hanged himself due to the family’s economic meltdown.
“I lost my first-born child, my son who was in Senior Four, on 15 June 2024 after he hanged himself due to this crisis because of lack of food and other necessities,” he lamented.