Eight-year-old Joan regained sight after successful cataract surgery

The 8-year-old Joan Simon regained her sight after having sight problem almost half her childhood life.

Her father Simon was appreciative for her daughter now able to see the world clearly.

"I appreciate Dr Wainbe Wahame whose work resulted in my daughter Joan’s eyesight being restored and she can now attend school," Simon said.

Meanwhile, Laila Foundation Director Dr Amyna Sultan said Joan has regained full vision and is now dreaming of becoming an eye doctor herself, a testament to the life-changing potential of this program.

She said in the past 4 years, her father took care of her but now she will live independently.

A high-volume cataract outreach program called ‘Operation Restoring Sights in Hela’ in Hela Province has ended successfully this week.

From the reports NBC Online received over 300 people with eyesight problems being restored.

The first outreach program was conducted in 2019, after 5 years, the team returned to the province.

Hela Provincial Health Authority (PHA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr James Kintwa said the program was a success through collaboration with Laila Foundation, Santos Foundation, the Hela Provincial Health Authority [PHA], the National Department of Health and the Pacific International Hospital.

“Just imagine how these people will feel when going back home with restored sight, it's just incredible. This is a life changing experience,” Dr. Kintwa said.

The program costs over K300,000 and Dr Kintwa said it was not a waste, 300 people benefited for lifetime from this fund.