Calpe-based NGO “Visió sense fronteres” has completed its latest campaign to prevent blindness in Kenya, performing a total of 277 cataract surgeries, the highest number of procedures the charity has performed in the country so far. In most cases, very advanced cataracts were treated so that patients could barely see.
Several children were also operated on, the youngest being 7 years old, for cataracts caused by trauma, which are more complex cases and require longer surgery times. In the case of the children, general anaesthesia was required.
The campaign was carried out in Makueni County in the south of the country, between Nairobi and Mombasa, where the Visió sense fronteres expedition travelled, consisting of three ophthalmologists, a nurse and three optometrists. The delegation is working with local non-governmental organisations such as Embracing the world Kenya, which is responsible for selecting patients, as well as the governor of the district and Lukenya University.
"We are very happy with the result we have achieved. We managed to operate on all the patients we had planned. It was a tough day, from 8am to 8.30pm, with the ophthalmologists not even taking a lunch break, but it was very gratifying to be able to help so many people. We come back with empty suitcases and a heart full of looks, smiles and good humour," says the NGO's coordinator, Isabel Signes.
As with previous editions, Calp City Council has collaborated with Visió sense Fronteres on this solidarity campaign.