By Kitts Mabonga
Dozens of citizens suffering from cataract related illness challenges have benefitted from a free eye treatment courtesy of OPGFA free eye Hospital in Ntinda which is the only exclusive hospital offering eye related treatment to citizens of mankind.
The Overseas Pakistanis Global foundation Africa (OPGF) which owns the hospital hosted a free eye treatment camp from 21st June to 4th July with the aim of offering free services to the poor but vulnerable patients faced with the challenge poor eye sight.
The OPFGA founder Sikandar Iftikhar Cheema told the East African Gazette at the closing ceremony of the camp that they had managed to conduct free eye surgical operations on over 5,600 patients with up to 18,000 given minor treatment ever since they opened the hospital.
Sikandar pointed out that they have hosted several camps among the districts of Lira, Katakwi ,Arua, Mayuge, Jinja and Kampala for the Metropolitan area were largely the poor and vulnerable patients have been covered with others fully recovering from their blind status.
He observed that with their expert medical teams drawn from the USA, UK, Pakistan among other countries have continued to offer treatment services to many patients across the world as well as offering free ambulance services, blood donation camps among other services to humanity.
During a recent private visit to the vice president Rtd. Major Jesca Alupo by the OPGFA team, they promised to return to Katakwi district for the second time to continue offering eye care services to up country communities were majority citizens are in dare need of eye treatment services.
OPGFA is the first free eye hospital within the East African community (EAC) region which and currently operates six days each week based at Ntinda next after Capital shopper’s supermarket in Ntinda.
The deputy prime minister Rukia Isanga Nakadama separately commended OPGFA for having extended a free eye treatment camp to her district of Mayuge saying the burden of eye diseases is rampant within the entire Busoga sub region and urged more eye care service providers to visit Busoga.
‘We would like to thank OPGFA team led by Sikandar for having held a successful free eye treatment camp in my district of Mayuge of which I represent in parliament as its woman MP.Because of the big problem of eye related diseases and we urge them to return and offer more medical support to those citizens who can’t afford the treatment bill which stands at 2M per a patient’ noted Nakadama.
According to the world health organization (WHO) report, over 950 people in Uganda have contracted conjunctivitis red eye disease in 2024 and appealed to the government to invest more resources in the prevention and treatment of the disease through carrying out mass community sensitization campaigns.
DISEASE DESCRIPTION BY MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Cataract means cloudiness of the natural lens. Causes / Risk factors, there are a number of causes/risk factors of cataract in adults. The common ones are, Old age, Diabetes (High blood sugar),Certain drugs like corticosteroids, Eye injuries Presentation, Gradual painless loss of vision ,White pupil Management of cataract At primary care level , Any patient with poor vision should be referred to the secondary /tertiary centres for further management.
At secondary / tertiary level history should bring out possible risk factors for cataract like, age of patient, use of drugs like corticosteroids, medical conditions such as diabetes, trauma and drug allergies. Guidelines for Eye care, Examinations, General examination: like blood pressure measurement and general health.
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