The Transformative Journey of 10 year old Elizabeth

Elizabeth, a ten-year-old girl who regained her sight having had bilateral cataract through surgical intervention, underscores the profound impact of medical advancements on individual lives. Prior to her surgery, Elizabeth’s mother recounted the daily struggles her daughter faced, often bumping into objects and navigating a world shrouded in darkness. This poignant narrative highlights not only the challenges of living with blindness but also the resilience and determination that children exhibit in overcoming such obstacles.

A Brighter Tomorrow: Joyce’s Vision Restored

Joyce Chikwama, a six-year-old girl from Kayumweyumwe, Mumbwa, Zambia, was born with a growth in her right eye that gradually became worse over the years. When her mother first took her to get the growth assessed, she was incorrectly advised to put breast milk in her eyes to get rid of it. Since that did not work, the growth expanded to a point where it almost reached her pupil and affected her vision. When she was old enough to communicate, she started to ask what was in her eye and would often complain about pain.

Stay Focused; Ophthalmic staff edged

Set goals in your career, work towards them, remain focused and embrace challenges as an avenue towards growth.

said LIAZ Board Vice-Chairperson Dr. Grace Chipalo-Mutati, as she encouraged young ophthalmic staff, particularly women. Dr Chipalo-Mutati, who is a renowned ophthalmologist, said this in response to the assertion by Ms Martha Nanyangwe, an Ophthalmic Nurse of Mansa General Hospital (MGH) that she gets…

Rhoda Moonga and Joseph Kabwe Sight Restored

Restoring sight in Central Province has profoundly transformed the lives of individuals like Rhoda Moonga, a peasant farmer, and Joseph Kabwe, a mechanic. Both suffered from cataracts, which severely impaired their ability to work and support their families. Rhoda became entirely dependent on her children for daily tasks, while Joseph’s inability to work jeopardized his family’s livelihood. These personal accounts highlight the devastating social and economic consequences of untreated cataracts in rural communities

Educating the future, preserving life

The establishment of the Kayumweyumwe Community School and Health Centre exemplifies the profound impact of community-driven initiatives on education and health outcomes. Initiated in 2015 and 2019 respectively, these facilities arose from a collective desire to address critical deficiencies experienced by residents, notably inadequate educational infrastructure and limited access to healthcare services

Overcoming barriers in Ngabwe, June 2022

According to recent statistics, the prevalence of blindness in Zambia ranges from 2.2% to 4.4% which implies that there are 339,081 to 678,162 people who are either visually impaired or blind within a population of 16 954 051. The leading causes of blindness are cataract (53.2%), glaucoma (19.0%), trachoma (5.7%), refractive errors (15.3%), corneal opacity (3.6%), and retinal disorders (3.2%). All of these causes of vision impairment are preventable or treatable with early detection and management..

Traversing Zambezi plains to deliver healthcare

Nalolo District, one of the 14 districts in Western Province endemic to trachoma at baseline, exemplifies the challenges and resilience inherent in public health interventions in remote areas. With a recorded prevalence of 13.4% in 2016, targeted interventions were implemented as per the decision table, resulting in a reduced prevalence of 9.9% by 2018. These improvements underscore the effectiveness of sustained and adaptive health strategies…

Chamulimba Health Centre Commissioned

The recent inauguration of the Chamulimba Health Centre, constructed by Lions Aid Zambia with support from Våres Jul Norway, marks a significant milestone in improving healthcare access for the residents of Rufunsa District. This development addresses the long-standing challenges faced by the Chamulimba community, who previously had limited access to essential medical services. The establishment of this health center not only symbolizes…

United for trachoma elimination in Kapiri Mposhi

In the picture is the Trachoma Survey Grader (Josias Ndlovu) giving a sweet to Alick Tembo after screening him for trachoma as part of the survey exercise. Observing in the background while the Recorder (Racheal Moono) enters her data is Alicks father who is also the headman of Kamanuna Village in Kapiri Mponshi District, the village guide (Mr Oliver Mutinta) and a team from the Ministry of Health (Dr. Tendai Munthali and Lubasi Sundano).