Doctors returning to Bangladesh to perform eye surgery

For the second year running, two doctors from Kingston Hospital’s Royal Eye Unit are travelling to Bangladesh to perform life changing eye surgery.

For the second year running, two doctors from Kingston Hospital’s Royal Eye Unit are travelling to Bangladesh to perform life changing eye surgery.

Consultant lead clinician Hooman Sherafat and ophthalmologist Dr Ziaul Haque are taking on the challenge.

At a local hospital, they will perform cataract surgery on some of the poorest people in the country who do not have access to medical facilities.

Last year, the pair travelled to Bangladesh and performed surgery on 158 people in one week as part of the work co-ordinated by the Global Aid Trust charity.

This time around, they are hoping to treat up to 300 people in 10 days from February 2, with the trip being funded entirely out of their own pockets.

Mr Sherafat said that they can use the lessons learned from last year and upgrades to the local hospital to increase the total number of operations carried out.

“Of course while the trip last year was a success, there were limitations such as differences in equipment, facilities and logistics as well as organisational challenges,” he said.

“We will use these lessons to hopefully increase our output.

“For me it is an honour and pleasure to be part of this charity as I got tremendous satisfaction out of the trip last time.

“I am looking forward to doing it all again.

“Cataracts are the number one cause of reversible blindness in the world and fortunately, in most cases, we will be able to give the Bangladeshi people back useful vision.

“This is life changing for them.”

Dr Haque is a director of Global Aid Trust, which is co-ordinating the operations and funding supplies.

He said that, as the trip was such a success last time, more people will travel to the hospital this year.

“Many Bangladeshi people heard about our success last year and will travel to the hospital to have the operation carried out,” he said.

“We hope to do about 30 operations a day.”

Dr Haque and Global Aid Trust Charity are also fundraising to purchase a mobile medical unit worth £200,000.

The equipment could be used to perform operations across rural areas in Bangladesh throughout the year.

To donate money to the project, visit: www.justgiving.com/GlobalAidEyeCatract.

Source: Elmbridge Today