100 children to undergo cataract surgery

HEALTH  EYE CARE

About 100 children will undergo free cataract surgery and squints corrections at Lubaga Hospital in Kampala at an eyecare camp.

The two-day eye camp will be held on November 20 and 21 and will attract eyecare experts from within Uganda and abroad.

The camp is being organised by Eye Care Project Uganda in collaboration with Lubaga Hospital, Uganda-UK Health Alliance (UUKHA) and Helping Uganda Schools (HUGS).

The chief executive officer of Lubaga Hospital, Dr Andrew SSekitooleko, said they have joined other partners to contribute towards Vision 2020, which aims to reduce preventable blindness in the Uganda.

"The camp will have in-country experts and expatriate medical and optometric support from Moorefield Eye Hospital in London,ˮ he said in an interview.

Primrose Magala of Eye care Project Uganda, said the intervention would provide hope for both adults and children who cannot afford expensive eye surgeries.

Magala, who is a senior Ophthalmic Nurse at Moorefield Eye Hospital, said a concerted effort is needed to reduce avoidable blindness. 

According to Dr Anne Ampaire Musika, an ophthalmologist and a lecturer at Makerere University, at least six million Ugandans are undeserved in terms of eye care services.