Rumbek state hospital launches free eye surgery camp targeting 500 patients

RUMBEK – Rumbek State Hospital, in collaboration with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) and Doctors with Africa CUAMM, launched a six-day free eye surgery camp targeting 500 patients suffering from cataracts.

Rebecca Alek Machol, a beneficiary of the program, expressed her gratitude for the initiative.

“I was losing my sight, and now there’s hope,” she said.

Machol lamented the difficulty of traveling to Juba for such procedures and expressed hope for an increase in local eye care specialists.

Martin Lokii Lokure, team leader for the eye surgery camp, detailed the project’s scope.

“Our team of two surgeons and four support staff aims to operate on 300-500 patients within six days,” he said.

Lokure explained the outreach program is funded by an Italian corporation under CBM and implemented by Buluk Eye Center.

Dr. Terran Madit Terran, medical director of Rumbek State Hospital, highlighted the high demand for these services.

“Last year, a similar initiative operated on 270 patients, but many were left behind due to limited resources,” he said.

Terran revealed the current target is 600 surgeries, with negotiations ongoing to potentially extend the program and serve more patients.

Manuer Apac Malok, another beneficiary, spoke about the impact of the program. “I had one eye operated on in Juba last year. Now, thanks to these doctors, my other eye is functioning again,” he said.

Malok acknowledged the government’s limitations in employing eye surgeons and praised the support from NGOs.

Dr. Abubakar Bellu, Rumbek Hospital coordinator for CUAMM International, emphasized the project’s wider goal.

“We aim to restore sight and improve the lives of vulnerable people across the country,” he said.

Bellu revealed plans to potentially double the initial target of 600 surgeries based on the high number of registered patients.

The story highlights the collaborative effort between the government, NGOs, and international donors to address a critical healthcare need in Lakes State.

The high demand for eye surgery services underscores the importance of such initiatives and the need for potential long-term solutions to increase access to specialized care.