Marathon to raise funds for 2,500 free eye surgeries
Sep 27, 2014
In a move to save more people with eyesight problems, Lions Club of Kampala Central, a charity organization has organized a marathon to raise funds to support four eye surgery camps around the country.
By Jeff Andrew Lule & Abu Mwesigwa
KAMPALA - In a move to save more people with eyesight problems, Lions Club of Kampala Central, a charity organization has organized a marathon to raise funds to support four eye surgery camps around the country.
The camps will be used to carry out free cataract surgeries on 2,500 patients across Uganda.
The marathon will be conducted under the theme; “Run for Sight” with the aim of raising sh160m to be used in setting up the camps in different parts of the country.
Reported as the most common cause of blindness, a cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to a decrease in vision.
Initiated last year, and planned to be an annual event, the marathon is scheduled for October 5 – next Sunday.
While receiving a cheque for sh1m contribution from Housing Finance Bank in Kampala this week, Jotham Tugumisirize, the Rotary Club’s president said they are targeting the rural poor who cannot afford to pay for the eye surgery.
He said they are committed to continue changing the future of many lives through saving their eyesight.
“Many people in rural areas have been blinded by cataracts due to poverty. We urge all organisations to support the cause as a way of giving back to the communities for supporting them,” said Tugumisirize, shortly before commending Housing Finance for their continued support to the cause.
Prof Charles Ibingira, the second vice chairperson of the Rotary Club, is leading the committee that is organizing the marathon.
He said: “We are going to carryout cataract surgeries to about 2,000 patients to get back their sight. We already have doctors to carry out the surgeries. We shall also give the patients glasses.”
The target group for the marathon includes corporate companies and individuals. Those who intend to run will pay sh20,000 (adults) and sh10,000 (students) as subscription fee.
According to Ibingira, a surgery for a cataract costs about sh500,000 in hospitals which many people cannot afford.
Out of the estimated one million blind people in Uganda, cataracts accounts for 40 percent of that statistic.