In Ghana, 200,000 people are needlessly blinded because of cataracts in one or often both eyes. This isn’t merely an inconvenience but a major roadblock, affecting their ability to work, their mental health, their safety, and puts additional strain on family relationships and economics. These good people are mostly farmers, some are drivers, teachers, market retailers, or in the case of Sualisu, a carpenter.
He builds furniture, at least he did until about 3 years ago when he went blind due to cataracts in each eye. He was unable to work and could no longer provide for his wife and 3 children. He is 46. Then, just two months ago, his wife passed away. He did not know what to do to care for his children.
As an albino, he expected difficulties with his sight, but his profound impairment at such a young age exceeded anyone’s expectations and rendered him unable to do even the most basic tasks. He knew he needed help.
He went to an eye clinic and was told the cost of cataract removal surgery was a sum unattainable for Sualisu. He went home depressed and discouraged. One day, while lying on his bed, he heard on the radio that Daybreak Vision Project would be performing a cataract outreach, providing surgery at no cost. He lit up with excitement and went to a nearby screening site.
The screeners determined he was a good candidate for successful cataract surgery and Sualisu had a decision to make. He had reservations about having surgery, but ultimately decided to put it all on the line: he would do whatever it took to get to Tamale Teaching Hospital. He would hold nothing back.
He made the journey and had the surgery. Hospital staff and volunteers from Daybreak Vision Project and LiveView Technologies assisted him along the way.
After surgery, patients have bandages put over their eyes and stay the night at the hospital on mats out front. It’s important that their eyes rest and recover from surgery. The next morning, patients are lined up in the courtyard and wait for surgeons to come through and remove their bandages and they undergo further testing and follow up care.
Sualisu sat in a chair, bandages over both eyes, waiting his turn. He seemed to be uncomfortable, like he simply could not wait for those patches to come off because he so desperately wanted to see.
Dr. Akwasi Ahmed, who performed his surgery, removed his patches. The result was instantaneous. Sualisu, 46-year-old father or 3, widower, and carpenter, could see! His daughter stood behind him, smiling. His enthusiasm, gratitude, and smile was evident all morning as he completed his visual acuity testing with flying colors.
Later that day, some of the Daybreak and LiveView Technologies volunteers met him at his home. We saw the bed he was in when he heard the radio announcement that changed his life. We watched as he easily navigated his surroundings and joyfully interacted with neighbors and friends.
Sualisu will return to his family home, where he will resume carpentry, care for his children, and move forward in hope and healing towards a brighter future.
Special thanks:
To LiveView Technologies, Utah, USA (https://www.lvt.com) for sponsoring the outreach and providing a superb volunteer team.
To the medical teams from Tamale Teaching Hospital (Dr Gilbert Bonsaana, Dr Judith Simon, and Team), Friends Eye Clinic (Dr Seth Wanye and Team), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (Dr Akwasi Ahmed, Elizabeth Mensah-Ansah RN, Curtis Addae OD, and Edgard Afour and team), and Watborg Eye Clinic (Dr Bo Wiafe, Ruth Wiafe RN, and team), and Dr Lordson Dagba.
Music Credits:
A Kind of Hope by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au
made available under the Creative Commons ‘Attribution 4.0 International’ (CC BY 4.0) License
Life Blossom by Keys of Moon | / keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Awakening Dew by Keys of Moon | / keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Hymn to the Dawn by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au
made available under the Creative Commons ‘Attribution 4.0 International’ (CC BY 4.0) License
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