The Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with the New Sight Eye Center   has recently concluded another phase of free surgical and medical outreach in Bong county, the central region of Liberia. The free surgical outreach was sponsored by the Samaritan’s Purse International while the New Sight Eye Center served as its implementing partner. The free eye surgery outreach conducted in the county is among few eye programs piloted by Samaritan’s Purse, which is aimed at improving the quality of lives of people living with blindness across the nation.

During the week-long exercise, over 350 visually impede people successfully underwent free surgery, with many of them sharing testimonies of their undesirable turn of lives.

Martha Lincoln, a candidate who underwent a successful operation, expressed joy for gaining her sight again as she leaves from darkness to light.  ‘’I was in total darkness but now I can see. I want to say thank you to all the people who have come here to help us to see.’’ She noted with joy.

‘’Firstly, I tell the mighty God to thank you, I want say thanks to the government thanks; and I also want to tell the people who’ve come to work on our eyeball plenty thanks. We don’t get pay for them; only God will pay them,’’ Madam Lincoln concluded.

Testifying after the successful operation, Mr. Edward Zolowo noted that people most often abandon them much time due to their condition but now he is grateful for the freedom restored onto him by regaining his sight.

‘’Now I can see again, I was in darkness but thought this would not work again. Blindness my son is really bad it makes you look like a small child and ask people help in everything but today I am a happy man because I can see.’’ Edward Zolowo said.

The entire Cataract surgical operation continued simultaneously with both male, female including children most especially those with Cataract problems across Bong County.

The Cataract patients mostly adults came from across Bong County to be treated in Salala with lodging, food, and transportation all made availed by the Samaritan’s Purse.

However, declaring the outreach open was Dr. Joseph L. Kerkulah, National Eye Health Program Manager of the Ministry of Health. He used the occasion to express the Ministry and the Liberian government’s gratitude to Samaritan’s Purse and the New Sight Eye Center for always partnering with the Ministry in providing sight to Liberians from all walks of lives.

The National Eye Health Program Manager promised to continue with such gesture in the county following a huge turnout of patients for the surgical operation.

Dr. Kerkulah, meanwhile, called on health practitioners throughout the country to get involve or specialized in the area of eye health care; something he believes would be a gap in the future if not address.

‘’We want to again thank our partners—the Samaritan’s Purse and the New Sight Eye Center—for such an initiative in the Country; hence, we are grateful to all of them for providing sight to our people while we at the Ministry monitor and supervise the process,’’ he said.

Also, Speaking was Dr. Galakpai Kolubah, Assistant Health Sector Manager Dr. Galakpai Kolubah of Samaritan’s Purse. Dr. Kolubah said Samaritan’s Purse is on a mission in the country’s health sector to help the government and other partners improve the sector.

‘’On behalf of the Samaritan’s Purse, our Country Director, and Sector Manager, we say thank you so much for the support and effort. We want to make sure that those who have been operated on be able to go back home without someone helping them, do things by themselves, go on the farm by themselves and eat their food without assistance’’. He explained

Still at the official launch in Salala was Dr Robert Dolo, Founder and Executive Director of Cataract Surgeon at the New Sight Eye Center.

According to Dr. Dolo, the surgical outreach conducted in Bong County was a sight-restoring service to the people of Bong County, thus urging citizens to take advantage of the opportunity.

‘’ We are here purposely to remove cataracts and to restore sight. It is a sight-restoring service to the people of Boing County like we have done in other counties. Now we want you to take this opportunity and make maximum use of the opportunity and support eye care health in this country to reduce blindness in Liberia’’ he said during the opening.

Signed: __________________________

           Felecia Gbesioh

           Director of Communication

           Ministry of Health, RL