He went on to say that, the equipment will go a very long way in the fight against blindness in Sierra Leone adding that they did not only stop at donating equipment but also went ahead to train six local staff of drawn from Kenema, Kissy Eye clinic and the Connaught hospital on the correct use of the equipment.
He said that, Cataract is the major cause of blindness in the world and that for Sierra Leone, one per cent of our population constitute blind people adding that there is every need for government and other partners to pay special attention to it. He wasted no time in telling all that lack of necessary equipment in the eye sector was one of the major problems his department was facing but with such donation from the Later Days Saints, it is no longer a problem. Dr. Vandy told all that they are currently using the equipment to do free Cataract operations on victims and that they are targeting one hundred people for the free operations after which, people will start paying reasonable amounts for the operation in order to help them maintain the equipment. He therefore called on all Cataract victims to make good use of the opportunity at hand adding that they should stop going to traditional doctors for the treatment of their eyes as the hospital is the only solution to their problem. He ended by telling all that Cataract is not preventable but however can be cured.
In his statement, Dr. Kenneth Troley an eye specialist who did the donation on behalf of the Later Days Saint began by telling all that the Later Days Saints is a Christian Faith based organization that believes in rendering humanitarian services to the less privileged in the world. He furthered that, the equipment donated were to help minimize if not eradicate Cataract in Sierra Leone adding that they consider blind people as the poorest amongst the poor in the world and therefore should be given the needed attention they deserve. He expressed satisfaction in the team work and cooperation he has seen in the eye department since his arrival and therefore encouraged the team to continue in such a spirit. He assured all that his organization will continue to give its fullest support to Sierra Leone in order to ensure that Cataract is taken care of.
