Firstly, can I reiterate my thanks to all of you who sponsored me in the half marathon. Your support has allowed the hospital to help more people in this remote and poverty stricken part of . If you want to have a look at some of the great work we are doing please have a look at our new website: www.bwindihospital.com .
I am writing again to tell you all about an amazing opportunity that the hospital has been given. We have teamed up with , and a charity called CBM (Christian Blind Mission) to arrange a surgical eye camp at Bwindi. The aim of the camp is to provide cataract surgery for people afflicted by this condition. For those of you who don’t know, a cataract is when the lens of an eye becomes cloudy and affects vision. Cataracts most commonly occur in older people and develop gradually. Cataracts can usually be treated with a routine 'day case' operation where the cloudy lens is removed and is replaced with an artificial plastic lens. However, in developing countries where treatment is not available, cataracts are a major cause of blindness.
Some of you will be aware that I have set up a regular eye clinic at Bwindi, offering basic eye care services to a community that has never had them before. About 10 % of the patients that I see have visual impairment caused by cataract. Without surgery there no help that I can offer.
and CBM have agreed to make the long and difficult journey to Bwindi in June, but they have asked us to share some of the costs. This would be about £1000. We can get at least 50 people with cataracts who would benefit from an operation. This means that a donation of £20 would pay for the restoration of sight for at least 1 person. I will certainly be contributing myself as I see this as an excellent investment.
Of course I am aware that many of you were extremely generous in your donations last year. I have thought twice about asking for your help, but feel that this is too good an opportunity to pass.
