Awo

At the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP), we maximize our impact by working with an extensive network of partners, leveraging available talent and resources. Together with our partners, we contribute to the screening and examination of over a million people annually, provide surgical care for over 115,000 patients and support training for hundreds of local eye care professionals at all levels and disciplines. The following is a story from one of our Ghanaian partners, the Watborg Eye Clinic as told by our in-country representative, Dr. Oscar Debrah. The Watborg Eye Clinic is located in the central region of Ghana and is led by HCP Partner, Dr. Boateng Wiafe.

“One day a gentleman came to the clinic with an old lady who was bent over and blind in both eyes with cataracts. We could tell this sweet lady was greatly troubled.

Awo, as she is affectionately called, is believed to be 102 years old and had been blind in both eyes from cataracts for the past 4 or 5 years. She told me she had given up hope of ever seeing again, which made her a sad mother. Awo had twins, who are in their late 60s, and one of them has recently passed away. She said what troubled her most when she was blind was not able to see her daughter before she passed away. Awo also regrets not seeing her grandchildren these past years and great-grandchildren – some she has never seen.

We assured her she was going to be given a gift, the gift of sight. So she reluctantly let us to operate on one of her eyes. The first postoperative day when the eye pad was removed she was so surprised she could see that she immediately asked if we were taking her back for the second eye. So we operated on the second eye that day and now her sight is back in both eyes!

Awo is so happy and grateful - she could not believe she was seeing again! She also wanted to make sure I tell HCP and its supporters, she is very grateful and that you should continue to touch the lives of people like her.”

Dr. Oscar Debrah

HCP Ghana Representative