| KISOGA-MUKONO | KYAGGWE TV | A 34-year-old Jaliru Maasa is filled with happiness resulting from the recovery of his eyesight which he had completely lost in 2020 as a result of cataract disease (ensenke).
A resident of Ssozi village in Mpatta sub-county, Mukono district, Maasa said that the past over four years have been so unproductive just because he had lost his sense of sight.
Maasa is among the over 40 people who benefitted from the first phase of the free eye camp surgery which was organized by Herona Hospital in Kisoga cell, Ntenjeru-Kisoga Town Council in Mukono district.
Dr. Henry Mukalazi, the founder of Herona Hospital said that the free eye camp surgery which is to last for five months until December 2024 has been conducted in commemoration of the 31 years’ coronation anniversary of the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
Dr. Mukalazi said that they are intending to help the vulnerable subjects of Kabaka Mutebi who are aged without the colossal sums of money demanded by hospitals in order to carry out cataract surgeries.
“The Kabaka opened our eye clinic in 2018 and from then, we have helped a big number of people to solve their eye problems including periodical free eye camps. We therefore sought to give back to our clients in the form of this prolonged free eye camp surgery,” he said.
Dr. Susan Kikira, the camp head surgeon said that cataract happens when the protein of the lens of one’s eye starts to break down and clump together.
Dr. Kikira said that cataracts regularly occur in people of 50 years and above, though there are children who are born with them.
“Cataracts cause the eye lens to become cloudy, affecting one’s eyesight. Though previously we would not operate on people with cataracts in early stages, as they are not so problematic, these days we also handle them,” she said.
She emphasized that cataracts are only treated by an operation where the natural eye lens is removed and replaced by an artificial one.
Dr. Kikira urged the eye patients whom she operated on to maintain proper eye hygiene saying it is advised to use a face towel while cleaning their eyes instead of the running water.
“We also advise them to use their medication promptly as advised by the surgeon. They should also rest because this is also an operation like the rest. We provide an eye shield to protect the eye more, especially at night when it becomes itchy so that it is not scratched,” she said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one percent of the total population of Ugandans are suffering from cataract blindness. However, Dr. Kikira says that the surveys locally done in Uganda have put the number at less than one percent. She says the highest percentage was from the Karamoja region which stood at 0.6%.
Though patients can nowadays get cataract surgery before attaining total blindness, a number of them delay until when they are completely blind.
The delay is linked to a number of reasons including; poverty, long distances to hospitals where cataract surgeries can be conducted, fear of operation, among other factors.
According to Dr. Kikira, cataract surgery ranges between sh500,000-3000,000 and above, depending on the healthy facility and the method of operation used.
Appreciations for Heron Hospital
Norah Nakato, a resident of Bibbo cell in Kawolo division, Lugazi Municipality, Buikwe district said that the eye which was operated had totally become blind as a result of cataract but she was so grateful that after the operation, it had gained its sight.
Hakim Wandowo, the brother of Maasa said that he gradually lost his sight and that he had spent three unproductive years at home.
“I am so happy for Herona Hospital for having done us this favour, having Maasa operated free of charge. I am so surprised, he managed to look and notice everything around him which was not the case yesterday as we came,” he said.
Resty Namuganyi of Kyengera in Wakiso district who is Livingstone Kabali’s caretaker said that he had used several medications but they could not help him.
Namuganyi said that their attempt to seek for an operation appointment from different hospitals was always in vain following the money asked from them which ranged between sh800,000-1000,000 which was not readily available.
She said that after hearing about radio announcements for the free eye camp surgery at Herona Hospital, they decided to give it a try and indeed everything was free.
***Compiled by Henry Nsubuga***