Communities surrounding Nkhoma Mission Hospital have commended the hospital for providing free eye care services as one way of commemorating world sight day.
One of the beneficiaries of free services, Jezita Kainja, said being a mission hospital, most people in her village prefer to stay at home despite having eye problems because they cannot afford the charges.
“I have been struggling to read for over a year and people have been telling me to go to hospital for eye examination but due to financial problems I accepted that there is nothing I can do about it,” said Kainja.
Concurring with Kainja, 53-year-old, Aaron Chikhoswe, said the day has brought smiles to many people in the area and it is a special gift to many people who have been struggling with different eye conditions.
“There are a lot of people in the village with eye problems, have never been to Nkhoma hospital for treatment but this day brought us here to access the services for free, for example myself I have received eye drops and reading glasses which could have cost me a certain amount,” said Chikhoswe.
Speaking on behalf of Nkhoma hospital eye department director, Chief Clinical officer, Ephraim Kambewa said, the activity has shown that there are indeed a lot of people who need eye care services but fail to access the same due to lack of finances.
“As a department we projected to examine and help 200 people but the response has been so overwhelming as we have managed to pass the projection, roughly we have helped about 500 people with eye drops, others are to come to hospital for different surgeries and further examinations while 250 people have received free reading glasses,” said Kambewa.
Kambewa also called on people to utilize the facility as it is closer to them and they should be able to seek medical attention on time.
At national level activities to mark world sight day took place at Game Complex in Lilongwe and other activities happened in districts.
World sight day is commemorated every second Thursday of October annually and this year the day has been commemorated under the theme, love your eyes.
