We are currently in Southeastern Ghana, in a town called Koforidua, conducting a high-volume cataract surgical campaign with cureblindness.org and our local Ghanaian partners through the country's National Cataract Outreach Program (NCOP).
The need here is unbelievable. Restoring these patients to sight is pure joy, as RSA members know very well. A highlight for me was to bring the RSA into the campaign with Greg Parkhurst, MD and Parkhurst NuVision’s support. The young man in the yellow t-shirt in the photos is a 21-year-old Ghanaian whose congenital cataracts caused him to be functionally blind at age 16. When we removed his patches today, he read the words “cure blindness” on my scrubs! He promised to return to school and attend University.
Needless to say, we were moved.
Through the efforts of Cure Blindness, the Ghanaian government is now supporting the NCOP. But the government support is not enough to reach the goal. Direct materials cost only $25 per case.
We are launching this Challenge Campaign to allow the RSA to support 5 outreaches, each performing 400 sight-restoring surgeries, with the goal of raising $50,000. Members who donate $5,000 or more will receive personalized photos from the outreaches and “brand presence” in the campaign for use in their office. Those who donate $10,000 or more will be invited to attend an outreach – an unforgettable experience. Those who donate any amount will receive the satisfaction of supporting their tireless and selfless colleagues who make this possible.
Please join this effort. The collaborative power of the RSA can support the elimination of needless blindness in Ghana, a beautiful and welcoming country!
Thank you!
Guy & Mary Kezirian
Guy is a volunteer board member of Cure Blindness
