
By Patrick Juma Wani
The Catholic Diocese of Wau in South Sudan has partnered with Juba University’s School of Medicine to conduct an eye care campaign in the country’s Western Bahr el Ghazal State targeting more than 200 patients with cataracts.
In a March 23 message shared with ACI Africa, the Health Coordinator of Wau Diocese, Dr. Jurel Payii Mamur, said that the examination, which has brought on board eight specialized doctors, will cover the entire South Sudanese Diocese for a period of ten days.
“There are currently more than two hundred people ready for the examination and many others are still coming from various places across the county,” Dr. Jurel said.
He added, “There are eight doctors carrying out the examination in Raja County of the Catholic Diocese of Wau. The doctors include four from the Diocese of Wau and four from the University of Juba for eye examinations.”
Wau Diocese Health Services Coordinator expressed concern that many people have lost sight in the area, noting that the examination is aimed at finding out the real cause of blindness.
“Many people who have eye problems are mostly from Raja. That’s why we are starting from here,” he said, and added, “The survey is not only based in Raja but our team will go outside the town because the exercise will go for ten days.”
Dr. Jurel further said that people who will not be operated on in the area will have to be referred for care in Wau.
According to South Sudan Medical Journal (SSMJ), the leading causes of blindness in South Sudan are cataracts, trachoma, glaucoma, and onchocerciasis. Other eye conditions include allergic conjunctivitis and refractive errors. There is variability in the pattern of eye diseases in South Sudan.
In the March 23 message shared with ACI Africa, Dr. Jurel urged the people in the world’s youngest nation to visit health facilities to know their eye status.
“Let our people continue to visit the nearest health facilities to know the status of their eyes before it becomes too late,” he said.
“It’s important for our people to know the situation of their eyes because this is the only chance for them to see again once the operation is done,” the Health Service Coordinator said.
In 2021, the Catholic Diocese of Wau partnered with Swiss Red Cross and South Sudan Red Cross to launch an eye care campaign in the country’s Western Bahr el Ghazal State in view of treating at least 500 patients with cataracts.
He further called for increased awareness campaigns on the eye conditions in South Sudan, saying, “I am calling on those who got the information about the eye operation campaign to tell those who are suffering to come for an examination.”Newer articles:
- UNMISS Sensitizes National Policing Counterparts On Upholding Human Rights During Pre-Trial Investigations - 28/03/2023 06:01
- Climate change threatens South Sudan’s water security: report - 28/03/2023 04:06
- Pakistani peacekeepers in South Sudan fortifying dykes to keep communities safe from floods: UN - 28/03/2023 03:10
- Opinion | The need for flood management in South Sudan - 28/03/2023 02:12
- Democracy on trial: Africa’s moment of truth beckons at Zambia summit - 28/03/2023 00:43
Older news items
- Lainya County launches large-scale agricultural project - 27/03/2023 06:13
- Born in the Unlucky Generations of South Sudan [opinion] - 27/03/2023 05:10
- Sudan: Fire Guts Market on Sudan-Egypt Border - 27/03/2023 02:00
- Burhan says Sudan's army will be under leadership of civilian government - 27/03/2023 00:57
- African Cup of Nations 2023: overview of the knockout phase - 27/03/2023 00:26
Latest news items (all categories):
- The Collo Kingdom Remains Underdeveloped: Five Hundred Years Later! - 03/02/2025 12:57
- Attack on South Sudan cattle camps kills 35 - 03/02/2025 12:46
- في صفقة مثيرة.. الإمارات تشتري نفط الجنوب في باطن الأرض لمدة 20 عامًا - 03/02/2025 12:42
- South Sudan: Can oil production save the economy? - 30/01/2025 19:27
- 20 oil workers and crew die in South Sudan plane crash - 30/01/2025 19:20
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan' Warrap state declares opposition to federalism - 22/06/2014 09:48
- SPLA accuse Murle of avoiding Jonglei disarmament - Sudan Tribune - 19/04/2012 05:42
- South Sudan: We Are Not Obliged to Arrest Sudanese President Bashir - 15/03/2012 09:33
- Sudan completes troop withdrawl on S.Sudan border - 27/06/2016 03:17
- South Sudan's Kiir applying divisive policies: Amum - 17/03/2021 17:00
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 68826 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22366 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21566 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 19259 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19210 times