Back in May, we reported that Ekwendeni Mission Hospital had launched its first community eye health scheme. Now we’ve just received a report from Sullen Munthali, the clinic’s ophthalmic clinical officer, about their second campaign which took place in October and November this year. Here is a summary of his report…
In the remote regions surrounding Ekwendeni Mission Hospital, a critical eye health challenge existed: many villagers suffered from treatable eye conditions, yet remained unaware of available medical interventions. Recognizing this gap, the Ekwendeni Eye Department embarked on an ambitious awareness campaign during October and November, seeking to transform community understanding of eye health.
When I first arrived two years ago, the department was seeing merely five patients monthly. Traditional outreach through government health workers had yielded little success. However, our new targeted campaign changed everything. By conducting weekly presentations across eighteen rural health centres, our team discovered remarkable community hunger for medical information.
The campaign specifically targeted poor, isolated communities with high rates of avoidable blindness, particularly cataract sufferers. Often around 500 people would be attracted to our events which featured talks, dance, competitions and interactive discussions.
Through these our team challenged traditional misconceptions about eye treatment, and explained that many of the most common conditions can be treated at Ekwendeni Hospital. Our message was clear: medical intervention can restore sight and transform lives.
Our challenges included the high cost of drugs to treat patients and in some places resistance from local chiefs who wanted payment for us to enter their villages.
But the results were transformative. Patient attendance at the eye clinic has surged from 30 to 90 monthly.
We sincerely thank The Raven Trust for its support which will greatly change the lives of people around Ekwendeni. And we can report that the project came in on budget!
Looking forward, the department plans to build on this momentum. Proposed initiatives include dedicated cataract surgery camps, specialized clinics for diabetic eye conditions, and screening programs in schools and community centers. The ultimate goal remains unchanged: providing accessible, high-quality eye care to those who need it most.