Akeen graces eye care campaign launch in Aweil

The governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Tong Akeen Ngor, on Monday witnessed the launch of an eye care campaign at the Aweil Catholic Church, in the state capital, Aweil.

The campaign was initiated by the Catholic Diocese of Wau to provide eye surgery with the target of saving 500 visually impaired people in the state.

The campaign was sponsored by the German development agency, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Speaking at the event, the German ambassador to South Sudan, Tobias Eichner, pledged to continue supporting the state government in ensuring the visually impaired have access to operations and eye care services.

He also pledged to support several projects in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, including agriculture and health projects.

Amb. Tobias appreciated the state government for the hospitality it accorded the team that visited the state.

Governor Akeen hailed the World Food Programme (WFP), and GIZ for their efforts towards food and agriculture projects in the state.

He said the GIZ eye care campaign in the state was a milestone for restoring the sight of the majority of the state’s citizens.

“I thanked all the partners, especially the GIZ, for their great contributions to making the eye care campaign possible in the state. The Eye Care Campaign will help many people who have eye problems in the state “gain their sight,” Akeen said.

“I assured the German Ambassador that the state government will do its best to support the eye care campaign in the state in collaboration with partners such as GIZ and other organizations that support the health sector to make sure that the blindness in NBGS can be possibly reduced.”

Previous campaign

In April, the Catholic Diocese of Wau launched an eye care campaign in partnership with the Swiss Red Cross and South Sudan Red Cross, a campaign that resulted in treating 500 patients who were suffering from cataracts in the Diocese covering Kuajok, Aweil, and Wau.

Speaking during the launch of the eye care campaign at Wau Teaching Hospital, Dr Jurel Payii Mamur, said the operations would cover the entire Diocese as they were supported by seven specialised opticians.

“This Eye Care Campaign program was organised by the Health Department of the Catholic Diocese of Wau for all the areas under the Wau Diocese, whether in Kuajok, Aweil, or Wau Parish,” Dr Jurel said.

The state health ministry in Western Bahr El Ghazal State promised to use local media to disseminate information and sensitise residents who had cataracts in Wau Diocese.

Kenail Lodu, who represented the specialized doctors, said that they were committed to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the South Sudanese who were suffering from eye problems urged the government and partners to open eye clinics within the state, complaining that transport to Juba to access such services was expensive.