Cataract Eye Surgeries in East Africa

Working Together for a better world

Providing Essential Reconstructive Surgery

Pediatric Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in children in east Africa. Untreated cataracts in children lead to tremendous social, economic, and emotional burden to the child, family, and society. Early intervention can help evade permanent blindness.
The condition is an epidemic within the vulnerable sub-Saharan African communities due to inadequate economic conditions, lack of educational resources, and insufficient healthcare. There is only one ophthalmologist per one million people, according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (André). With so few eye doctors per capita, many patients with cataracts are unable to treat the condition.
Help restore their vision. Your gift will transform their lives.
The first Cataract surgeries mission in Kenya where
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Cataract surgeries
out of 250 were performed on children

Learn More about UHR’s Pediatric Cataract Surgeries Mission in Kenya

UHR carries Pediatric Cataract Surgeries Missions in remote suburban areas in Kenya. Due to the lack of pediatric eye specialists, surgeons and nurses are flown from the capital or other countries to conduct the surgeries and follow-ups.

An anesthesiologist gives the child general anesthesia, so the child won’t be awake or feel anything during the operation. Then, the surgeon will use special tools to break up the lens, then remove it through a very small incision. **Adult cataract surgeries do not require general anesthesia and typically cost less than pediatric cataract surgeries.

In some cases, children are treated for complete loss of vision. Thorough follow-up is required for a week after surgery and in some cases, eyeglasses are essential.

Paediatric Eye Camp in Wajir by Safe Surgical Aid & UHR

Another day! Another inspiring story of a brave little princess!
Deqa Siyad Muktar, a 4 year old princess from Tarbaj, was playing with other children in the neighbourhood when they found a needle misplaced by the polio team according to the parents.
The children fought over the needle , their new found “toy” and in the scuffle, the needle was inadvertently planted in the eye of the little princess by another child.
Princess Deqa came home crying and was rushed to the hospital. A clot which formed in her eye was removed but unfortunately her vision dwindled and completely lost months later. She became blind on the right eye.
She was registered in Safe Surgical Aid’s paediatric eye medical camp. She was reviewed by Dr. Ollando, the eye surgeon and booked for surgery.
She had a successful surgery yesterday. During the post-operation reviews today, both her and the parents were elated after her vision was restored.

Issack Ali, a 10 year old boy from Makaror in Wajir West,

While looking after a small herd of goats, was struck in the eye by a branch of a thorny tree in 2019. He came back home writhing in in.
The parents could not afford to take him to a hospital. The neighbors advised his mother to “pour goat milk” on the affected eye. Somehow, out of the desperation of seeing their child in pain, believed this would help. It did not help.
Issack’s eye developed cataracts as a result and has lived with the scar and blindness for the last 3 and a half years.
The parents lost all their small herds of goats to the drought and the boy was just at home doing nothing. The mother narrated that she has never had a sound sleep ever since her boy developed blindness. When they heard about Safe Surgical Aid’s eye camp for children, they registered him and he had a successful surgery yesterday, courtesy of Dr. Ernest Ollando, a pediatric eye surgeon and his team. Today, as you can see from the pictures, his vision is back.
United Hands Relief & Development would like to thank the donors, Safe Aurgical Aid and Wajir County Government for the support and for putting a smile on another kid’s face.
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