Free Cataract Surgeries of 3000 Poor Patients

Greetings for the New year!

As part of Al-Mustafa Welfare Society's Eye Campaign, we organized a Free Eye Camp at Bharchundi Shareef, a remote and densely populated area of Dist. Ghotki Sindh. 

The objectives of this program are to provide:

• Free Cataract Eye Surgeries service to the poor and underprivileged people living in the remote areas of Pakistan to eliminate avoidable blindness.
• Medical eye care services to the patients in under-developed areas of the country.
• And create awareness of eye care services for the elimination of blindness.

The campsite was selected with the coordination of local community and Al-Mustafa Welfare Society's local network. To facilitate the maximum number of beneficiaries, we need to reach out to the maximum number of people. For that purpose, we requested the support from the Primary Eye Care Centers in the area, government health institutions, local administration, schools etc for the advertisement and to make the camp easily assessable to most of the patients in the community.

The Eye Camp was conducted for 3 days in Bharchundi Shareef from 8^{th to} 10^th  December 2020. A total of 1520 patients were examined, and 541 Cataract Surgeries were performed during the 3 days. Patients who required eye care treatment were treated at the same site. All these services were provided completely free of cost. 

All cataract patients were operated using Small Incision Cataract Surgery procedure with Intraocular Lens (IOL) implantation after calculation of IOL power, using biometry. 

Operated patients were discharged with required medicines, a pair of sunglasses and counselling for post-operative care. Patients were found satisfied with a better vision. Post-operative follow-ups will be done at the same campsite after 1 month by Ophthalmic Assistants of respective Primary Eye Care Centres.

Our team for the Eye Camp consisted of 3 Ophthalmologists and 14 other technical staff. Local volunteers from schools and other social workers also participated. 

Apart from Eye Care Services, we also conducted Free Hepatitis-C investigations and the positive cases were referred for further treatment. 

Statistical Summary of Bharchundi Eye Camp (8-10 December 2020):

1. Total Beneficiaries                                                           1520
2. Total Cataract Surgeries                                                  541
3. Total Hepatitis-C Positive                                                 37

We will continue to send you more campsite reports in the coming days. 

Links:

• Find Al-Mustafa Welafre Society on Google