Following Direct Aid’s strategic plans to maximize social impact, the association’s office in Yemen built last month (December 2023) ophthalmology camp no. 74 within the Nour Al-Aoun series of camps to treat eye diseases free of charge. The camp included Al-Hadidiya Governorate and Lahj Governorate, due to the increasing infection rate of cataracts in those areas. The camp’s medical staff was able to conduct vision examinations for more than 2,500 patients, in addition to distributing medications and vision correction glasses to more than 1,000 patients, and carrying out 740 cataract extractions and lens implants. The camp also provided awareness sessions for patients to preserve their vision, and prevent exposure to cataracts and eye diseases.
One of the patients said, “For more than 7 years, I have been suffering from poor vision, and I was unable to treat myself because of the high prices to operate where we live. I used to stumble in my work because of poor vision. Now, thanks to Allah, I can see clearly, and I ask Direct Aid to provide more of these camps to treat more people in my town.” Another patient says, “Now I can see clearly, after I used to walk on the streets and not know where to go. I also used to fall on the road thresholds a lot. I thank Direct Aid and its donors for this camp.”
It is worth noting that the cost of performing cataract surgery does not exceed 40 Kuwaiti dinars, yet it changes the life of an individual from a person unable to work, to a person who can see and is able to work, support their family, and help develop their community.