150 patients suffering from cataracts are expected to receive free treatment from Kanombe Military hospital during the course of the next four days in a project as part of the army week annual event.
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the lens of the eye that eventually results in the loss of vision.
“During this annual army week event, the Rwanda Defense force tries to reach out to the community by accessing vulnerable areas in activities aimed at improving the lives of the residents.” says Lt. Col. Dr. Dr. Ben Karenzi, Director of Kanombe military hospital.
” We went to Gisagara and treated around 4,000 patients that previously had no access to healthcare. Among those patients, we encountered 71 cases of cataracts which led us to bring them here for proper diagnosis and treatment “. He said.
The Military hospital is the only health institution in the country with the available medical equipment required in carrying out the surgical procedure for treating cataracts.
It is expected that 150 patients in total would receive the treatment, including the 71 were from Gisagara while 40 more are expected to come from the same region as well 39 more from Bugesera.
“It is reported that approximately 0.5% of the population is suffering from a case of blindness among those cases it is estimated that about 80% of them which amounts to around 200,000 individuals have cataracts according Munana, Joseph Ophthalmology clinical officer.
“The major issue with the victims is that they don’t come for treatment. Not just in the case of cataracts but in general, patients are unaware that most of these illnesses are insidious and report to the hospital only when they are critically suffering “he highlights.
One of the patients who would undergo treatment Martha Kubwimana, a resident of Gisagara, gave her testimony saying: “ I am really grateful that I am receiving this treatment, I have been blind for two years and because of that I was unable to cater properly to my family.”
For some others such as Twagirayezu Theodore , who had been blind for much longer ( 20 years) looking forward to the treatment: ” I had grown accustomed to my condition and accepted it as fate so knowing that it can be changed is like a miracle.
”I look forward to this treatment and encourage many others like me to come and get treated as well.”
According to Dr. Karenzi, there are various types of cataracts such as those that naturally due to old age and Traumatic cataracts after an eye injury.
Radiation cataracts is infected through direct exposure to some kind of radiation such as ultra violet rays from the sun and congenital cataracts which can be acquired from birth.
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