Now, we’re back to share a few of the inspiring stories of people whose lives have been transformed thanks to the generous support of our donors.
In Photos: Changing lives in Cameroon – Mariya
We recently returned from a trip to Cameroon to learn how Orbis is transforming lives of people with avoidable blindness. There, we met a handful of the 150,000 people who have lost their sight in the country. Cameroon has the fifth highest prevalence of blindness in the world and so much of this is avoidable.
Mariya's Story
This time, we met three-year-old Mariya. Even though she is so young, her eye was clearly causing her problems. She was in a lot of discomfort and always scratching her eye as it was so itchy. Now, life couldn’t be more different for her. She’s laughing, climbing on furniture and thriving at her new primary school – it’s hard to believe she ever had difficulties with her vision.
When Mariya’s worried mother noticed a white spot in her left eye, a visit to hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon, confirmed she had a cataract and required further treatment at Magrabi Hospital – an Orbis-supported institution. There, Mariya's mother Juliene was told her cataract was quite a complicated one and required the expertise of more experienced surgeons. They were then told that the Flying Eye Hospital programme would be coming to the capital and that her toddler needed an operation.
Juliene, Mariya’s mother
When I first got the news, I felt hurt that a child this small is going to be operated upon, so it was painful for me; but after all the end of it is for her to have her sight back. So, I said that the will of God be done. It was very painful seeing such a thing in her eyes. I did not see this situation when she was born. I asked, what happened? Did she fall?
Cataracts account for 50% of Cameroon’s cases of blindness
Juliene explains that Mariya’s operation went well, and Mariya slept comfortably afterwards, spending the night in Magrabi Hospital. She said: "The surgery doesn’t seem to have had any sort of negative effect on her. Sometimes she says 'take me to the plane where they cut my eye'!"
Perhaps it was the Orbis teddy bear that she was given on board that made the difference; Mariya has become so attached that she has taken to sleeping with it.
According to her followup appointment a month after the operation with Dr Omar Salamanca, Flying Eye Hospital staff ophthalmologist and Dr Ted Afetane, a local paediatric ophthalmologist, the outcome was positive too. The surgery was not as routine as some others can be, but it went well.
Dr Afetane tells us that Mariya will most likely need a second procedure to insert a lens, but this is not an uncommon procedure. Juliene is delighted with the outcome of the surgery and how Mariya is getting on.
Juliene, Mariya’s mother
I really thank God for Orbis as Orbis saved my daughter. Many parents wish their children could be operated on as my daughter was, but they didn’t have the opportunity. Even those who have been operated on did not get the same expertise as Orbis offered — Mariya was operated with no complications. I’m really grateful
Little Mariya started school in September, which she loves. She also has lots of friends, which is easy to believe as she chats away and plays with her toys. Apparently, when her teacher leaves the room she sits in her seat and bosses the other children around – perhaps there’s a teaching career on the horizon as we're told 'she likes giving orders!'
She also enjoys helping at home, sweeping and washing dishes. She always wants to be doing something – including going back to the plane.
In the fight against avoidable blindness, every minute counts
Give the gift of sight