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Five children have regained their vision after a recent Cataract Surgical Mission organized by Rotary District 9110 Eye Hospital, Ota, Nigeria, recently.
The mission, funded by UK-based philanthropists, supported the sight-restoring surgery for the five children suffering from cataracts. Dr. Yinka Osoba of the Rotary Club of Yeovil and Global Sight Solutions, UK-based blindness prevention NGO, facilitated this critical life-changing mission.
Three of the children were born blind due to congenital cataracts, while two developed cataracts in one eye after injuries. These five successful surgeries required general anaesthesia.
Secretary of the Rotary District 9110 Eye Hospital Charitable Trust, Dr. Basirat Giwa, explained, “We sought sponsors to reduce the backlog of children awaiting cataract surgery. There is a huge backlog of kids waiting for Cataract Surgeries in Public Hospitals because these facilities are usually overwhelmed with many children waiting for various surgeries, and this leaves their future uncertain.”
Giwa expressed optimism that this is the first of many “future interventions” to help restore sight and empower children on the verge of total blindness. Rotary District 9110 Eye Hospital, Ota, Nigeria seeks additional partners, including Rotarians, corporations, and public-spirited individuals, to expand its reach because early intervention is crucial for optimal vision outcomes in children.
“It is heartwarming that many organizations address adult cataracts, but pediatric cases are less common due to the need for anaesthesia and the scarcity of pediatric surgeons,” she added.
