Catholic Diocese in South Sudan Targeting Hundreds in Ongoing Free Eye Surgery

“Whoever is getting our message should come to St. Theresa hospital anytime because we have our team there to help them,” Dr. Camillo said about the latest eye surgery initiative that started March 3.

He also encouraged patients to “come and get eyeglasses to help them to see and read well.”

Dr. Bati emphasized that this campaign is not only for Western Equatoria State but for the whole country, urging citizens from across the country to seek treatment.

“It’s very important for the patients to see again so that they can take care of their families like they used to do before,” he further said.

In the March 6 interview with ACI Africa, Dr. Camillo said the surgery initiative was being realized following the request of the Local Ordinary of CDTY, Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala.

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“The campaign is part of the Bishop’s call to support people who are vulnerable and wish those who have eye problems to come and get the treatment,” he said about the surgery initiative that is conclude at St Theresa Mission Hospital, Nzara, on March 15.

Meanwhile, the Mary Help Hospital in South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Wau has partnered with the National and State Ministry of Health to launch a two-week free surgical campaign in the country’s States.

In an audio recording shared with ACI Africa Tuesday, March 7, the Principal of Mary Help Hospital says that there are more than seven hundred people enrolled for different surgical operations.

“The patients are in need of different types of operations such as hernia, tumors, prostatectomy, gynecological, and goiter amongst others,” Sr. Gracy Adichirayil says.

Sr. Adichirayil adds, “We have four doctors who are doing the operations and they operate as much as 15 patients per day.” 

The member of the  Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco continues, “The patients receiving treatment come from different states such as Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap, Lakes and Western Bahr El ghazal States.”

“Our mission as a Catholic Church is to support those who are suffering because we want them to live a happy life that God has given them,” Sr. Adichirayil further says.

She adds, “I know we will not be able to treat all the patients but the doctors promised they will be going back on 16 of this month, and are ready to be back with the services after six months.”

Patrick Juma Wani is a South Sudanese journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. Patrick holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Makerere Institute for Social Development (MISD) in Uganda. He has over 7 years of extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of media, advocacy, communication and multimedia strategy and operations, with an excellent track record of editorial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder outreach. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.