You have given light to more than 168 thousand people

Over the last 15 years, thanks to your goodness, more than 168 thousand people have regained their sight. Cataract operations that we started in 2007 under the slogan "If you see them, they will see too," continue in 18 countries in Africa and Asia.

• How Do Cataract Patients See the World?
   
• Is It Possible to Cure It?
  The cure is the surgery only and it only takes 15 minutes. However considering the poverty and lack of adequate resources ieven a short surgery as such can be impossible
• What Does IHH Do For This Matter?

  We have been facilitating surgeries since 2007. So far we have done;

  Medical check-up on 863.886 people.

  Medical examination on 615.802 people

  Surgeries on 173.693 patients who regained their eyesight

  Since 2007 IHH has facilitated periodic cataract surgeries in 18 African countries in total which are as follows: Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Chad, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Niger, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. In 2014 we have established an eye hospital in Niger where surgeries are carried out regularly.

• Patience Selection and Surgery Duration

  The number of patients in regions where we conduct cataract operations is determined according to the donations made. The number of cataract patients treated depends on the budget allocated for this purpose.  Determining the patients, the duration of surgery and recovery process can vary according to the country. As legal procedures are long in certain countries, this can increase this process to up to 6-8 months.

• How Can I Contribute?
  You can fund the surgery of an African cataract patient to regain his eyesight by donating 75$ only. You should see the patients leaving the hospital with smiling eyes that are able to see and pray for the donors. Because if you see them they will also see.

I want to open the eyes of a cataract patient

168 thousand people in 15 years

For the past 15 years, IHH has continued its operations in Africa, assisting 168 thousand people in regaining their sight. IHH, which operates under the slogan "Goodness anytime and anywhere" is expanding its operations globally.

Niger Eye Hospital

In Niger, where deserts cover 60 percent of the land, there are 130.000 cataract patients due to insufficient healthcare services. The most common cause of cataract in this area is sand getting into the eye, which is one of the causes of cataract. In 2014, IHH supported in the establishment of an eye hospital in Niamey, Niger's capital. The hospital, which provides hope and light to thousands of patients who are unable to receive surgery due to a lack of financial and technical resources, plans to operate on 6,000 patients over the next five years. Furthermore, specialized doctors from Turkey provide medical training for local doctors to become qualified to perform the surgeries.

WE WERE THERE

I was the first person he saw

I had been to several African countries before, but this time was different; we came to perform cataract surgery on 300 people. That meant 300 people could see again. They wanted me to remove the bandage from the eyes of a child who had undergone surgery. I was extremely excited. I knelt down and attempted to remove the bandage. I moved slowly, as if I didn't want to startle a bird. I noticed he was staring into my eyes after I removed the second bandage. I was the first person he saw in his life. He was surprised, and I was super happy. 

I'm at a loss for words to express my joy. He examined everything around him after looking at my face. Ordinary things seemed strange to him because we had seen and grown accustomed to them thousands of times. He was going through everything one by one, almost like a scanner. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful view in my life. A cataract surgery changes a person's life. On that day, 300 people began a new life in Togo.

İzzet Şahin / Togo