At least 127 individuals have undergone free eye surgery for trachoma and cataracts at the Bentiu Internally Displaced People’s camp in Unity State.
The free eye surgery campaign which ended last week was organized by the Christmas Blind Mission (CBM) and the state health ministry.
Dr. Banen Non, the director of Bentiu State Hospital, said the turn-up was good and that normal treatment will continue at the state hospital’s Eye Unit.
We had a target of 200 operations but we were able to do 127 surgeries for people with both eyes having trachoma,” he said. “The campaign has ended and we are now back at Bentiu State Hospital where we are continuing with normal treatment at the eye unit.”
“The Eye Unit at Bentiu State Hospital is now almost a year and eight months old and we work every day except on Sundays when only work on emergency cases,” Dr. Non added.
He said that the financial support for the eye surgery campaign came from Christian Blind Mission.
“Once a patient is recommended to us by CBM, we will evaluate and decide if the eye surgery can be done in Bentiu or make a referral to Juba or Uganda. Once a referral has been made by the Eye Unit at Bentiu State Hospital, CBM takes care of all the surgery costs and logistics up to Juba or Uganda,” Dr. Banen explained. “For example, we are unable to treat retinal glaucoma in children and the surgery is not being done in Juba either. We refer this kind of case to Uganda directly.”
“Some of the trachoma patients would have gone completely blind if they had not gotten the eye surgeries provided by the Eye Unit at the hospital and most of them can now see properly,” he added.
Trachoma, a bacterial infection that starts similar to conjunctivitis, can lead to severe eye damage and even blindness if left untreated, Dr. Non said.
The disease is particularly prevalent in areas with water shortages, poor sanitation, and fly infestations. It spreads through contact with infected flies and via hands, clothes, or bedding that have been in contact with an infected person.
The success of the recent campaign has spurred plans for future endeavors.
“We have plans to conduct free eye surgeries in Roriak and other places in Unity State,” Dr. Non said.
Meanwhile, Chomani Chiok Dayiem, a beneficiary of the surgical campaign, was happy to see out of the affected eye again.
“One of my eyes was operated on because of trachoma. We have now regained our sight and are delighted with the success of the free eye camp,” he said. “I can now see clearly like before and thanked CBM which organized this program or trachoma treatment.”
For his part, Dr. Albino Nyibong, a surgeon with CBM, confirmed that they carried out 127 surgeries during the campaign and that plans are afoot to carry out similar programs.
“The program is continuing in Bentiu State Hospital and anyone who has an eye condition can go there to operated,” he said.