Unprecedented surgical campaign in a new district in Inhambane
As part of the actions carried out by Eyes of the world in Mozambique to reduce avoidable blindness in the Inhambane province, the first-ever cataract surgery campaign at the Panda Health Centre took place from 4 to 8 May. This pioneering activity marked a historic milestone, as the district does not have specialised ophthalmology services and eye surgeries had never previously been performed there.
The beneficiaries of the campaign had been identified in advance during screening consultations conducted through the mobile optical clinic, a project that brings eye health services closer to the most remote and vulnerable rural communities. The Provincial Hospital of Inhambane is located far from Panda, making it difficult for many people to travel there to access treatment. As a result, many had been living for years with severe visual impairment, a situation that limited their autonomy, productivity and social participation.
Although it was the first time that the district of Panda had hosted a campaign of this kind, the team successfully adapted a room provided by the health centre, temporarily transforming it into a functional and safe operating theatre. A total of 106 people (62 women and 44 men) underwent surgery, recovering their sight and improving their quality of life. The impact of this campaign represents a major step forward in expanding eye health services to districts without ophthalmological coverage and in reducing inequalities, as it facilitates women’s access to surgery, given that they often face greater difficulties in travelling or leaving their families behind.
In May, an intensive surgical campaign also took place at the Provincial Hospital of Inhambane. Although the hospital performs surgeries on a regular basis, the main objective of this campaign was to strengthen the facility’s response capacity and help reduce the long waiting lists of patients requiring surgical intervention. In total, 97 people (56 women and 41 men) underwent surgery.
The Provincial Hospital of Inhambane has permanent ophthalmology services and a fully equipped operating theatre. In addition, some facilities in the recently inaugurated phase I of the new Ophthalmology Block were also used during this campaign, including consultation rooms and a large-capacity inpatient ward, which made it possible to increase the number of patients operated on from different districts and provide accommodation for those needing to stay overnight.