Eye Health Service System Strengthening Program in Tanzania |
World Sight Day - Promise of tomorrow at Tandahimba hospital
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13th of October was the World Sight Day which is designed to draw attention on visual disturbance and blindness, organized by International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness |(IAPB) and World Health Organization(WHO) .
To celebrate this, Heart to Heart Foundation (HtHF) Tanzania office prepared a special event for 3days from 11th of October. HtHF held a free eye screening and glasses provision in Tandahimba district hospital for the people who suffer from eye disease. Local people and elementary school students gathered together from an early morning to get their eyes tested and treated, because it‘s hard to receive an eye treatment service in that district.
During this 3-day event, about 250 residents received ophthalmic examination and 30 of them have supported with a pair of glasses. Mr. Saidi, aged 58, with his new pair of glasses and a smile on his face, told us "Now I see your face better. Asante(Thank you)", asking for a handshake with one of HtHF staffs.
Primary school students also came along to get their visual acuity test and treatment.
They were giggling at eye sight test, finding it out as an interesting thing, because it was the first eye sight test in their life.
Tandahimba district is approximately 3-hour distance from Mtwara town,
without proper infrastructure where the residents are in difficulty in getting medical service. Under this circumstance,
HtHF is currently establishing a Vision Center in Tandahimba hospital where they can receive a minor surgery and be prescribed for glasses, sponsored by Korea Agency of International Cooperation (KOICA).
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During this event for the World Sight Day, HtHF and local medical staffs could promise to bring a better future for local people among the midst of bubbling energy from the local kids.
