MEDEWELL Charitable Health Centre, Kibaha

FREE CATARACT SURGICAL CAMP, June 2014

SPONSORS: BETA CHARITABLE TRUST, UK; WORLD SIGHT INC, USA; DOCTORS WORLDWIDE, UK

MEDEWELL Charitable Health Centre conducted its first surgical camp for the year 2014 on the 21st and 22nd of June at

its Kibaha Centre. The free eye treatment attracted 47 patients who came from various regions extending as far as

Zanzibar.

Out of the 47 patients who showed up on the first day, 18 qualified for the surgical operations. Others had various

conditions for which they were counseled and provided with medications and prescriptions for refractive errors and

other cases presented immature cataracts and were advised to report back in August at the next surgical camp. The cost

of giving back the life of the eye cost $100 per patient.

Dr Mustafa Yusufali and his team performed all the 18 surgeries (15 cataracts, 9 women and 6 men; 2 Pterygium, 1

woman and 1 man; 1 Trichiasis, 1 woman) on the first day of the camp and conducted post op evaluations the following

day. All the patients were provided pre and post surgery counseling with free eye drops a pair of sun glasses and

necessary pain killers.

A week later, all 18 patients came back to the Health Centre for their post op follow-up checking which was conducted

by Dr. Mudassir Alloo and Dr. Shaznan Bhaloo. The last round of check-up is scheduled for the 3rd of August after which

they will be fully discharged.

All the patients and their families extended their deepest gratitude for the hospitality rendered and care attributed to

them pre and post surgery. They were provided with a healthy breakfast, mid morning porridge, lunch, mid afternoon

tea and dinner during their 48 hour stay at the Health Centre in Kibaha.

The patients who were treated at the Health Centre could not hold back their emotions and some let out cries of joy and

excitement. Some women gained their eye sights after several years of suffering from nearly total blindness while others

screeched in joy when they were able to read SMS messages from their sons and daughters. Another woman was amply

grateful to be granted that independence to be able to cross roads without constantly depending on her granddaughter.

MEDEWELL would like to extend special appreciation to all the people who were a part of this live changing event for

these 18 patients and these include but not limited to:

Dr. Dilawer Padhani who was the Camp Consultant and helped to organize this team.

Dr. Mustafa Yusufali and his team of experts for performing the surgeries.

Dr. Mudassir Alloo and Dr. Shaznan Bhaloo for conducted post op check-ups.

MEDEWELL Staff: Sister Octavina and Sister Rosy

Camp Organizers: Dr. Shiraz Datoo and Amina Ramadhani

WIPAS for their maintenance, transport, house-keeping and catering departments

KSIJ Scouts Boys

Camp Sponsors: BETA Charitable Trust, World Sight and Doctors World Wide

PRE-OPERATION PICTURES

Outside the operating theatre before surgery

In the Theatre

After surgery

Group Picture – Next Day of Surgery

All the patients pose for a group picture one week after their surgery

LIST OF PATIENTS

1 GRACE FWETA F 48 R - CATARACT

2 ESTER ERNEST F 60 L - TRIACHIASIS

3 MARY MPONGWE F 43 R - PTERYGIUM

4 JOHN LIHEDULE M 80 R - CATARACT

5 LAURENT ELIAS MNZAVA M 43 L - PTERYGIUM

6 ERNEST GABRIEL M 64 L - CATARACT

7 TONGA FWEKA F 80 R - CATARACT

8 ANNA MPANGILE F 80 R - CATARACT

9 ASHA ATHUMANI F 82 R - CATARACT

10 NYANZIGE SELEMANI F 80 L - CATARACT

11 CATHARINA VOKE F 70 R - CATARACT

12 MAUA SALEHE F 75 R - CATARACT

13 GELVAS KOMBA M 72 L - CATARACT

14 AMINA MOHAMED F 75 R - CATARACT

15 LAINI CHICHALUMO M 78 L - CATARACT

16 MAKAMBA ALI M 65 L - CATARACT

17 HARON HERMAN M 65 L - CATARACT

18 JULIETH MADEBWA F 70 R - CATARACT