Cataract Project

The Cataract Project (CP) is Ona Network's latest effort in restoring sight to underprivileged communities in Africa and in eliminating preventable blindness.

Cataract is currently the major cause of preventable blindness in the world. Developing countries are more affected because the availability and affordability of cataract surgery is very limited. In Africa, the number of people receiving cataract surgery per year in a population is only 500 per million, Tanzania is no exception to this. It is possible that Tanzania has the lowest cataract surgery rate (CSR) in the world. The major causes of low CSR in Tazania are both patient and organization based. Most patients in rural areas are living in poverty, therefore finding the cost of surgery and the distance from the providing hospitals major obstacles preventing them from accessing the available services. In addition to this, organisations lack manpower, funds and appropriate technology to provide high-volume cataract surgery.

A significant number (15% -30%) of patient's seen during Ona Network's eye camps in rural Africa every year have operable cataracts.  This situation necessitates action; we have committed to providing these people with cataract operations, which can restore not only their vision, but also their ability to earn a living, their dignity and their place in the community.

Poverty is the major hindering factor for people in rural areas of Tanzania to access cataract surgery. Most people cannot afford to pay for their travel to the hospital, let alone the cost of surgery, accommodation and meals while at the hospital.

During its pilot phase in 2006 the project successfully provided cataract surgeries to 70 patients in Dodoma Tanzania. During the two weeks period of the project, the patients were transported from their villages to the hospital, provided with food, accommodation and postoperative care. These people would otherwise never have been able to afford it.

Surgery is the only medical option currently available to treat cataracts. The operation is very effective, cheap (costing about $50) and takes as little as 20 minutes to perform.

Many of these patients will have been blind for several years, and the difference this operation will make to their lives will be invaluable. With good vision, people will be able to farm again, care for their cattle, care for their family and generally improve their standard of life. Many cataract patients live dependent lives. They need a child or another member of the family to be their caretaker, and to lead them around. If operated on these people will be able to resume independent lives and become active members of the community. The caretakers as a result will be released to participate into their community development. For young care takers, this is their opportunity to join or return to school.

Ms Heather Machin, of the Qld Eye Hospital in Brisbane Australia, has joined Ona Network as the Cataract Project Coordinator and Ophthalmic Nurse Consultant to help build the cataract project in areas of resources coordination, improving surgical environment including improved infection control, sterilisation techniques, surgical asepsis and pre-and-post operative management.

If you would like to assist financially with this project, or wish to donate medical consumables, please email us or send a closed cheque made payable to Ona Network Inc. to;

     Ona Network Qld Inc.

     562 Wondall Road

     Manly West 4179

     Australia

Project Staff

Frank Magupa
Project Manager

Heather Machin
Consultant Opthalmic Nurse and Resources Coordinator (Queensland Eye Hospital)

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Copyright 2008 Ona Network Inc.
Last modified: May 11, 2008