(ERGO) – An eye surgery clinic carried out by a US-based Somali doctor and funded by a diaspora youth group has helped 300 Somali refugees living in the Dadaab refugee camps in northern Kenya to regain their sight.
The clinic was organised by Dr Abdikadir Mohamed Mohamud, a medical specialist who lived and worked in Dadaab for 20 years before moving to the US three years ago.
Dr Mohamud arranged for a group of youth to raise awareness about the clinic and mobilise patients in January.
He organised youth in America to raise funds. Altogether the crowd-funding effort raised $103,000.
“With discussions between myself and the youth in North America, we agreed to fund the operation to help these people get their sight back,” Dr Mohamud said.
Mohamed Abdi Heybe, a 55-year old mason, was one of those treated during the free clinic. He had become partially blind three years ago after a snake spat venom in his eye and also suffering from an accident on a construction site.
Heybe, a father of 10, is now back at work earning a living for his family.
“During all that time I could not see, my family had to rely just on the food distributed at the camps. That had a very bad effect on my family. Now I am back on the construction site, earning 200-300 shillings a day to assist my family.
“We regained so much, there is nothing more valuable than sight! My family and I are happy because I had become a burden on them instead of being able to help them,” Heybe said.
The only hospital that offered eye surgery in the refugee camp closed in December after its support from the International Committee of the Red Cross ceased.
