adminDumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter
ONE of the world’s most reputable eye specialist organisations, Al Basar International Foundation of Saudi Arabia will conduct a free eye camp in Bulawayo this week where more than 500 surgeries are expected to be carried out.
Islamic Medical Association of Zimbabwe (IMAZ) spokesperson Mr Asisi Chibwana said the four-day free eye camp will be held at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), starting on Tuesday.
IMAZ facilitated the visit by Al Basar International Foundation specialist eye surgeons with the Saudi Arabian organisation being approved to operate in the country by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe and the Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The eye camp will also offer free eye counselling regarding cataract screening and surgery, general eye check-up and reading glasses.
“The current state of the economy is very bad, most people cannot afford to have their eyesight problems rectified and with most eye camps people are required to pay about $50 for surgeries but with this one we are taking care of that so everything is free of charge,” said Mr Chibwana.
He said the free eye camp was specifically targeted to cater for the underprivileged members of the society.
“As IMAZ, our aim is to alleviate the plight of the underprivileged members of our society. We want to assist those that have blindness which can be controlled or that can be corrected.
“We believe there is so much social and economic value in doing so because if a person is blind they need a person to assist them. So already we are going to free either the child that would be walking around with the blind person or the person hired to help out this blind person,” Mr Chibwana.
He said the free eye camp would also go a long way in reducing the ever ballooning number of eye patients waiting for surgeries at various hospitals in Matabeleland region.
“If you go to UBH or Mpilo (Central Hospital) now and also district hospitals you will see that there are people on the waiting list.
“They have confirmed cataracts but they can’t afford, it’s either its transport money to come from wherever they are or the money to pay for the surgery,” Mr Chibwana.
He said Al Basar International Foundation’s specialist eye surgeons would be using state-of-the-art equipment to carry out operations.
“Al Basar International Foundation is bringing machines, which are being used in the First World.
“Surgery will be done using Phacoemulsification, which is a latest technique used in most developed countries. The minimum number of patients we are looking forward to is 400 but we would be happy if we reach 600 for operations. We also have more than 1 000 sets of glasses to distribute,” said Mr Chibwana.
The Saudi Arabian organisations have over the years carried out 1 481 free eye camps in 46 countries in Africa and Asia and attended to more than 5 million patients and carried out over 400 000 cataract operations. The organisation has distributed more than 1,5 million reading glasses and 28 specialised opthamology hospitals worldwide.
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