More than 150 eye patients have undergone successful surgeries during an ongoing eye treatment campaign at Torit State Hospital in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State, health officials said.
The campaign launched on the 9th of this month in collaboration between the Eastern Equatoria State Ministry of Health and Cordaid, aimed to reach one thousand eye patients.
Dr. Lochi Lino, the cataract surgeon in charge of the Torit Eye Care Unit, told Radio Tamazuj that the program’s duration depends on the number of patients and will continue until a significant reduction in eye problems is achieved throughout the state.
Dr. Lochi stated, “The general update of the screening in the eye unit is close to 1,000 patients. We have screened everyone, and at least 150 patients have already been operated on. We may operate on as many as 170 patients today.” He emphasized that the campaign is ongoing, with outreach activities planned to reach patients in remote counties and payams.
He added, “I told them, please let them come and that this eye surgery is free. They don’t pay anything, so let them utilize the chance and come for surgeries because caring for a blind person is more expensive than eye surgery.”
Dr. Abdallah John Bosco, another eye surgeon, confirmed that since the program’s launch, the hospital has been able to address cases of cataracts and trachoma among visiting patients.
He acknowledged that some vulnerable populations in remote counties face challenges accessing medical care at the state hospital due to transportation difficulties. Dr. Abdallah urged eye patients across the state to try to reach the facility and benefit from the program.
“Majority of the people from the periphery of Torit city got the information, but means of transport remain a challenge. Others might have been engaged in gardening, so they have not taken priority to come. But I am urging all those getting information with their other relatives in the house who are having eye problems who are not seeing, let them hurry and catch up with this program,” he said.
Bortel Ohide, one of the cataract patients who underwent a successful operation, shared his experience, saying, “I was operated on yesterday, and I can now see things that I had not been able to see. The friends whom I have been hearing by name, I can now see them and also read and do my work. I am telling people afraid of eye surgery with claims that the operation would increase their blindness to ignore those claims. Instead, the eye surgery will clean your eyes, and you can perform your work better.”
Bortel expressed gratitude to Cordaid and the medical team for their efforts in restoring the vision of patients with a history of cataracts.