CATARACT SURGERY MISSION JULY 2016

Eyesight has been restored! In 2007, 2012 and 2014 the Partnership conducted a cataract surgery mission in Congo due to the high incidence of blindness and the lack of ophthalmology care. Because of the huge number of patients who registered for the clinic in 2014, the mission was planned to be continued in July 2016. . Very sadly, we must communicate that the 2016 Mission has had to be postponed. The government in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) has changed the visa application process recently and, due to time constraints, it was impossible for the US team to receive their visa to enter Congo.

The next question asked of us after this announcement is made is “But can’t the Congolese do it themselves?” That is absolutely true! The physicians and nurses and techs from Kananga and Kinshasa have the skill set and heart for mission to conduct this advanced eye clinic. However, under contract from the organizations that have so generously donated hundreds of thousands of dollars of medications, supplies and such important items as the implantable lenses, the US licensed surgeon must participate in the mission. And so, we had no choice but to postpone the mission and pray that the visa application process will change and we will be able to proceed by mid to early June 2017.